Buying tickets for flights to other countries can really cost a lot, but what if you could see 2 cities without paying extra for the flight? Some airlines have "stopover programs." This means you book a flight from where you live to one place, but you stop for a few days in another city along the way, and it doesn't cost you more for the flight itself. Read on to find out how you can use these airline stopover programs and which airlines offer them.
So how is it actually possible to turn stopovers into mini-vacays?
How do airline stopover programs work?
Source: George Kourounis/Unsplash
A lot of people would rather fly straight to where they're going, but that's not always possible because of when flights are scheduled or how much they cost. If your flight isn't direct, you'll usually have a layover at another airport for a few hours. But a stopover is longer – it's 24 hours or more – so you have enough time to leave the airport. If you have a long trip ahead of you, booking a stopover is a great way to break up your travel and see a new city without paying extra for the flight.
Let's say you found a really good deal on Icelandair from Denver to Paris, and you have to connect in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Instead of just waiting at the airport for a couple of hours for your next flight, you could use Icelandair's stopover program. It lets travelers explore the "Land of Fire and Ice" for up to 7 days without paying any extra for the flight.
You'll have to pay for your own place to stay with Icelandair's program and many others. But some airline stopover programs offer cheaper or even free hotel stays. For example, Etihad Airways has a stopover program in Abu Dhabi, and Qatar Airways has one in Doha.
If you don't want to stay overnight at the airport where you have to connect, but you still have a long wait, some airlines encourage travelers to use that time to see the city. For example, Singapore Airlines offers a free 2.5-hour tour of the city for people who have a layover in Singapore between 5.5 and 24 hours.
To book a stopover, you'll need to check each airline's website because the details of each program are different. With some airlines, like TAP Air Portugal, you can add a stopover when you book your flight online if it's allowed. For others, you'll have to use the multi-city search tool and add the city where you want to stop over as another part of your trip. Some airlines, like Turkish Airlines, make you send them an email to get the benefit.
These programs are good for both travelers and airlines. Travelers basically get 2 trips for the price of 1, and the airlines can help bring in more tourists to their home countries, people who would have just been passing through otherwise.
Which airlines provide stopover options?
Source: Samantha Gades/Unsplash
Here's a list of popular airlines that have stopover programs, as of early 2025:
- Aer Lingus: Stop over in Ireland for up to 7 days (you have to call to book).
- Air France and KLM: If you book any tickets using Flying Blue points, you can add a stopover of 24 hours or more in any city.
- Air New Zealand: Break up the long trip to New Zealand with a free stop in cities like Honolulu, San Francisco, or Tokyo.
- Azores Airlines: Spend up to 7 days exploring the Azores, which are beautiful islands belonging to Portugal, on your way to or from Europe.
- Copa Airlines: Enjoy up to 7 days in Panama City without any extra cost for the flight.
- Emirates: The Dubai Stopover gives you discounts on hotels and extra perks, while Dubai Connect gives you a free hotel stay if your layover in Dubai is between 8 and 26 hours and meets certain conditions.
- Etihad Airways: Stay for up to 2 nights for free in a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
- Fiji Airways: Enjoy this paradise in the South Pacific for up to 48 hours at no extra cost.
- Iberia: With Stopover Hola Madrid, you can add up to 9 nights in the capital of Spain to your trip, and you also get discounts on things to do there.
- Icelandair: Look for the northern lights with up to 7 days in Iceland on your trip across the Atlantic.
- Japan Airlines: Japan Airlines is currently offering free flights within Japan if you have a stopover there.
- Qatar Airways: The airline's free stopover lets you see Doha for up to 4 days, and you can get a hotel for as little as $14 a night.
- TAP Air Portugal: Add up to 10 nights in Lisbon or Porto to your trip, and you also get 25% off flights within Portugal and discounts on hotels and tours.
- Turkish Airlines: Explore Istanbul with a free hotel night if you're flying economy class, or 2 free nights if you're flying business class. You can also get discounts on extra hotel nights. (You have to email them to book.)
- Virgin Atlantic: If you have a long layover in London, you can get cheaper access to airport lounges and discounted tickets for the Heathrow Express train.
ParkingNearAirports.io: parking perks for your double getaway!
Source: Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash
After scoring a stopover deal, skip the airport hassle with off-airport parking from our smart booking platform – ParkingNearAirports.io! We offer transparent airport parking charges and the best airport parking deals to keep your trip smooth and budget-friendly. 2 destinations, 1 smart parking move – park easy, wander freely!
