An airline stopover programme is one of the smartest ways to get more out of a holiday, letting you visit two destinations for the price of one flight.
With multiple programmes to choose from, here’s our top 5 to help you hack your next holiday.
This article may include mentions of products from one or more of our affiliate partners. Unless explicitly stated, we are not being paid to include these. To learn more about our advertising policy, please refer to our Terms of Service.
What Is an Airline Stopover Programme?
An airline stopover programme is a travel incentive offered by the national airlines of certain countries.
It allows passengers to explore the country where they have their stopover, instead of waiting in the airport for a connecting flight.
These schemes offer great value for travellers as you get to explore two destinations for the price of one – and some even include free or discounted elements like hotel stays or tours.
How Does an Airline Stopover Programme Work?
How the programme works depends on the airline – it can vary quite a bit. For some you add the stopover during the booking process, others you’ll need to log onto a portal after you’ve purchased your flights to apply.
Depending on your nationality or where you’re travelling from, you may need a visa to exit the airport in the layover country. Always check the specific airline’s requirements for full details.
Is an Airline Stopover Programme Free?
Many programmes are completely free! That is in the sense that they don’t add an extra cost to your airfare. Some airlines do charge an additional fee though.
Some schemes throw in great perks like discounted or free accommodation, others purely give you the chance to extend your stay without paying a penalty. Again, check the specific terms of your airline to ensure the stopover deal fits your travel plans and budget.
The 5 Best Airline Stopover Programmes
These 5 airline stopover programmes are well worth considering for your next long haul trip. Some have freebies, some don’t, but they all offer the chance to explore an extra destination without having to cough up for a standalone trip!
1. Iceland adventure with Icelandair
Icelandair was actually one of the first airlines to get involved in what we now know as airline stopover programmes. It’s still one of the most popular and flexible options for airport stopovers, and is available for all fare types.
Passengers flying between Europe and North America can add a stay in Iceland for up to 7 nights with no extra airfare cost – Chelsea and James actually did this on a recent trip to Canada.
So whether you want to soak in the Blue Lagoon or chase the Northern Lights, it’s a great spot to see during your journey across the Atlantic.
2. Portugal break with TAP Portugal
TAP Air Portugal has an airline stopover programme that lets travellers stay for up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto during their trip. This is plenty of time to get out and explore – you’ve even got time to visit both of those cities!
TAP also offers discounts on things like hotels, attractions and restaurants, as well as 25% off an internal flight – great for seeing even more of the country. It’s a good choice for a dose of Portuguese charm before hitting up the States, Canada or Brazil.
3. Dubai stay with Emirates
Dubai Connect is the airline stopover programme that lets you add a stay in the emirate to your Asia or Australia trip. You’re eligible whichever class you’re flying in, as long as you have a short layover (8-26 hours) and it’s the shortest possible layover for your flights. This is important – if you choose flights with a more generous layover time, you don’t get the deal!
Now Dubai Connect is a pretty sweet option – you get a complimentary airport hotel stay, transfers and meals. If you’re planning a longer layover, you can still access packages and offers through their Dubai Experience platform, which saves you money on hotels, tours and activities.
I’ve used Dubai Connect twice now, flying from Glasgow to Bangkok! If you’ve bought a flight with a 8-26h layover you can qualify for free accommodation, visa, data roaming and meals! I spent 22 hours in Dubai last year and visited Dubai Mall and The Frame; all we paid for were Ubers and one meal in the Mall. It’s a great incentive to split up the journey and explore a new city!
4. Istanbul escape with Turkish Airlines
Istanbul’s location straddling East and West means it’s been a popular stopping-off place since forever. Enter Turkish Airlines and their airline stopover programme, Stopover Istanbul.
This gets you a free night’s accommodation if your round-trip flight includes a layover in Istanbul between 20 hours and 7 days. If you fly business, that goes up up to 2 nights in a 5 star – swanky!
If you just have a short layover (6–24 hours) you can opt for Touristanbul – a free guided tour that includes attraction entries, meals and transport to and from the airport. If you plump for this, just make sure you’ve accounted for enough time for security and passport control at both ends of your layover.
5. See more of Japan with ANA Airways
Now this offer from ANA airways isn’t a traditional stopover deal, but it’s an amazing offer. Passengers can get their hands on a free domestic flight when booking their international flights to Japan!
So say you’re flying London to Tokyo – you can add return flights from Tokyo to Hiroshima for no extra fee. Pretty jammy huh?! To qualify, you have to book the domestic flight at the same time as your international one – so they’re all on the same ticket reservation. Even if Japan’s bullet trains can whisk you between cities very quickly, they come with a price tag – whereas this deal is free!
Hack Your Holiday With An Airport Stopver Programme
An airline stopover programme is a savvy way to see more of the world, as you’re effectively adding a destination to your trip – for much less than a separate one would cost.
If you can factor the extra time into your travels, then you can look forward to seeing even more sights and even having some unexpected experiences – which might just make your holiday!
