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- There's Nothing Better Than A Free Stopover!
Summary
- Take advantage of free stopover programs offered by airlines to experience two destinations for the price of one and make the most of your travel budget.
- Royal Jordanian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Icelandair are among the airlines that offer free stopovers, allowing you to explore cities like Jordan, Qatar, and Reykjavik during your trip.
- Turkish Airlines, Iberia Líneas Aéreas, TAP Air Portugal, Singapore Airlines, and other airlines also provide opportunities for free stopovers in cities such as Istanbul, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, and Singapore, adding extra value to your trip.
Avid travelers are undoubtedly trying to experience as much of the world as possible, often on a budget. That’s why free stopovers are such a great travel hack; they provide the opportunity to experience two destinations for the price of one by breaking up your flight with a new city partway to your final destination. Whether traveling to one of the world's most popular destinations or somewhere much quieter, many airline programs are worth considering. These airlines offer completely free stopovers in incredible cities around the world.
UPDATE: 2023/11/17 17:34 EST BY NOAH STAATS
There's Nothing Better Than A Free Stopover!
This article has been updated with two new stopover programs in the Middle East. Whether it's Jordan, Qatar, or even Dublin, Ireland, there are endless ways to spend a free night (or two) in global travel destinations. Or, at the very worst, for little to nothing.
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For those flying in the Middle East looking to stop in Jordan, Royal Jordanian Airlines has a nice stopover program. To qualify, passengers must book their ticket following the Zuwar Stopover Program, which allows a night or two in the region to explore holy sites, the Dead Sea, and other famous landmarks. Per the website, passengers with longer layovers have one night at a hotel on the airline, giving them time to explore whatever fits inside that window.
It's also worth mentioning that Royal Jordanian Airlines requires the layover to be at least (8) hours for economy class, six (6) hours for crown class passengers, and not more than twenty-four (24) hours. Regardless, it's a nice way to travel without the rush.
- Stopover: 1 night
Perhaps visiting Petra, one of the many wonders of the world, is worth it during your stopover.
11 Qatar Airways, Qatar
Another stopover boasting one of the best plans in the airline industry is Qatar Airways' 'Qatar Stopover,' which offers guests the opportunity to book properties from $14, including luxurious accommodation at 4-star and 5-star hotels. This applies to those with longer layovers, with 1–4 nights available at heavily discounted rates. Unlike some of the others on this list, Qatar Airways offers a greatly reduced hotel stay rather than one for free, so that is something to be wary of. At $14 for base pricing, this is *essentially* like a free hotel stay in the greater scheme of things.
Moreover, there are a few package tiers, including Standard, Premium, and Luxury.
- Stopover: 1–4 nights
10 Icelandair, Reykjavík
Icelandair has made its free stopover program a significant part of its marketing campaign in recent years, aiming to attract travelers to Iceland and boost tourism. It seems to be working, with nearly 700,000 tourists visiting the Land of Fire and Ice in 2021. The airline allows passengers to add a free stopover lasting between 1 to 7 days on any transatlantic flight. It’s the perfect way to see a second country on the way to mainland Europe without spending additional fares.
- Stopover: 1–7 days
Check Out Iceland's 'Stopover' Program For A Fun Layover
Those looking for a budget-friendly way to get a taste of Iceland tourism should consider the Icelandair Stopover.9 Turkish Airlines, Istanbul
Turkish Airlines flies to more than 300 destinations around the world and is offering travelers a chance to experience a taste of Turkey en route. Their stopover accommodation program allows travelers to stay in Istanbul for free when their layover is longer than 20 hours. When flying Business Class, passengers can stay in a 5-star hotel free of charge for two days. On Economy Class flights, passengers can get free accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Istanbul for one night.
- Stopover: 2 days
8 Iberia Líneas Aéreas, Madrid
Travelers heading to Europe on Iberia this summer can enjoy their free stopover program and explore Madrid without additional airfare. The program is called Stopover Hola Madrid and allows passengers on Iberia flights to stay in the capital of Spain for 1 to 6 nights before continuing on to their final destination. Travelers can use this free stopover on an outbound or return flight.
- Stopover: 1–6 nights
7 TAP Air Portugal, Lisbon or Porto
TAP Air Portugal is a Portuguese airline offering travelers the chance to explore Lisbon or Porto as a stopover for free as part of their ticket. For no additional cost, passengers traveling on TAP can choose to stay in Lisbon or Porto for 1 to 5 nights, experiencing a second destination for the price of 1 flight.
- Stopover: 1–5 nights
6 Singapore Airlines, Singapore
Singapore Airlines has an excellent stopover program that allows travelers to explore more of Asia on their trip. While it’s not technically free, travelers must book a round-trip award ticket or a higher-priced one-way advantage award ticket to stopover in Singapore or pay to add it to a less expensive ticket. At its most expensive, it costs $100 to add a Singapore stopover to a saver-level award ticket. The Singapore Stopover Holiday has a value of more than $350, providing passengers with accommodation, airport transfers, and admission to attractions around the country. To book for the stopover program online, travelers must have a layover longer than 24 hours.
- Stopover: Dependent on delay (must be 24+ hours)
5 Aer Lingus, Dublin
Aer Lingus is an Irish airline whose major hub is in Dublin, Ireland. Flying to over 20 countries around the globe, Aer Lingus offers travelers the option to book multi-city flights on its website. They can use this option to stopover in Dublin for free for up to 7 nights or contact the help desk to book on the phone. Dublin has a lively pub culture, breweries, and charming cobbled streets. It’s a fantastic place to spend a couple of nights before continuing to your trip's final stop.
- Stopover: 1–7 nights
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4 Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi
Travelers heading to the Middle East on Etihad flights can explore beautiful Abu Dhabi without quarantining at no additional cost for airfare. Passengers can get up to 40% off exclusive hotel deals in Abu Dhabi for 1 to 6 nights, or they can stay in a 3 or 4-star hotel on the airline for 1–2 nights. Abu Dhabi has many exceptional attractions for visitors, from upscale beach clubs to desert explorations.
- Stopover: 1–6 nights at 40% off or 1–2 nights on the airline
3 Copa Airlines, Panama City
The flag carrier of the Central American nation, Panama, Copa Airlines, offers travelers a chance to explore Panama City at no additional cost when flying with them. Copa wants passengers to learn about the culture, history, and biodiversity of Panama by exploring two destinations for the price of one. To get the deal, passengers must book the stopover as part of their original ticket. It cannot be added on later.
- Stopover: Dependent on booking
2 Air Canada, Toronto
Travelers flying on Air Canada to a city outside Canada and the US can enjoy a free stopover in the major hub of Toronto if travelers have connected flights. The layover must be longer than 6 hours to be eligible for the free stopover program, where travelers flying in Latitude, premium economy, and business class can get one night free in a participating hotel. Passengers flying on Basic, Standard, Flex, or Comfort fares enjoy a reduced rate at a hotel for one night as part of the stopover. The stopover must be added to the reservation at the time of booking.
- Stopover: 1 night with business class
1 Avianca, Bogotá
Passengers flying through South America on Colombian airline Avianca can get a glimpse of life in Colombia before continuing on to their final destination, whether in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, or somewhere in Central America. To qualify for the free Bogotá Stopover, passengers must have a layover between 8 and 24 hours. Avianca offers plans for how to spend a stopover with a duration of 8, 12, or 24 hours on their website.
- Stopover: Dependent on delay and booking