Airlines With Free Stopover Programs

To make your vacation funds go further, why not add a free stopover to your travel itinerary! Certain airlines offer extended layovers that give you the chance to leave the airport and explore a city – on the way to your planned destination. Some airlines even partner with vendors to get you hotel deals, discounted sightseeing tours, and other perks during your layover. Depending on the airline, stopovers can range from 24 hours to 10 days, and may or may not carry additional airfare fees. However, the following are some airlines with free stopover programs: 

The Portuguese carrier offers stopovers in two cities: Lisbon or Porto. You can stay in your chosen city for up to 10 days, and you have the option of adding the stopover to either your outbound or return trip. Within the city, you can find discounted accommodation through one of TAP’s hotel partners, city cards to visit popular tourist attractions, and dining offers from participating restaurants. For more details, visit the airline’s list of Stopover Offers. If you are interested in exploring another part of Portugal during your layover, TAP offers 25% off any domestic flight during the stopover period.

Qatar Airways offers a 1-4 day stopover and hotel bundles for travelers interested in visiting Doha. You simply choose which leg of your journey to add the stopover to, select the number of days, and decide what type of hotel you want to stay at. You can stay with one of the airline’s standard hotel partners for as little as $14 per night, at a premium hotel with rates starting at $23/night, or at a luxury hotel with rooms from $81/night. Qatar Airways also provides discounts for popular attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum, and the museum of Islamic Art. For more details, visit the airline’s Qatar Stopover Page.

Iberia’s “Stopover Hola Madrid” program gives you the opportunity to explore the Spanish capital on the way to or from your final destination. You can stay for as little as 24 hours, or as long as seven days. Stopover customers have access to a variety of discounts, including 20% off a Royal Palace tour, a free 2-day public transportation card, and discounted stays at Meliá hotels. Go to Iberia’s website for the full list of stopover experiences. 

Etihad offers a free stopover in Abu Dhabi. The airline provides you with a complimentary 2-night stay at one of its participating three-star hotels. It also has a list of exclusive deals for experiences and restaurants. If you are willing to spend extra money, you may want to upgrade to Etihad Airways’ Premium Stopover option. It allows for 2-4 night stays in luxury four or five-star hotels. The airline claims you can save up to 40% off Abu Dhabi’s most exclusive hotels. Consult Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover page to decide which option suits you. 

If Dubai is on your bucket list, you should take advantage of Emirates’ free stopover program. You are permitted to stay in Dubai for up to 48 hours. The airline has a feature that allows you to customize your stopover itinerary by choosing from hundreds of hotels, activities, tours, and restaurants around the city. Start planning your trip on the Dubai Experience page, which links to Emirates’ flight booking engine, as well as lists of its hotel and tour partners.

When you fly Turkish Airlines and have a connection in Istanbul, be sure to check how long your layover is. If it is longer than 20 hours, you may qualify for the carrier’s Istanbul Stopover program. The program provides economy passengers with a free night in a four-star hotel. If you are flying business class, you are entitled to a two night stay in a five-star hotel. Unfortunately, you cannot book a stopover online. At least 72 hours before your flight, you need to email the program representative assigned to your country of departure. You must provide your full name, contact information, reservation code, ticket number, accommodation dates, and preferred room type. You will then receive your free hotel voucher via email. You can find more information on the Turkish Airlines Stopover in Istanbul page. 

If you are a transatlantic passenger flying Icelandair, you can spend one to seven days in Reykjavik with no additional airfare costs. Unfortunately, Icelandair’s program does not include discounted hotel stays. However, the airline does provide a list of activities that stopover guests may enjoy, including whale watching experiences, northern lights tours, and passes to The Blue Lagoon thermal spa. You can find the full selection of tours and excursions on Icelandair’s website.

Panama’s national airline offers one to seven day stopovers in Panama City at no extra cost to the airfare. Simply add a Panama City Stopover to your outbound or return journey when booking your ticket and choose how many nights you want to stay. For more information head to Copa’s Panama Stopover page.

If you choose to travel via Toronto to a destination in Canada, the United States, or South America you can spend 48 hours discovering the highlights of Canada’s largest city, including the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Learn how to Experience Toronto with a stopover by visiting the Air Canada website. 

Some other airlines with stopover programs include Finnair, Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Avianca, and Korean Air. Programs are created and changed frequently, so you should do some research before picking an airline. 

If you are looking for ways to break up a long journey a stopover may be just the ticket. You pay for a regular direct flight, but get to spend time in an additional destination! For more travel hacks keep following Borderless Pair.