As the pandemic started to wane, we wrote that the deal for Turkish Airlines’ free Istanbul hotel stays for stopovers of 20+ hours was back. The program had, of course, been paused due to the pandemic. Until that time, more than 57,000 transfer passengers from 42 countries and 108 cities took advantage of the program. So the fact they were starting it up again, with expanded eligibility, no less, was VERY good news.
As it turns out, there are several other airlines that have similar offers of staying in a city for a few days, Some of them offer accommodations for free, but sometimes you have to pay a small add-on cost. Some of them simply allow you to have an extended layover without any additional fees. Whatever the case, it’s still a cheap and easy way to see another country in the midst of your travels.
Here are the airlines that have such offers:
Aer Lingus
Irish airline Aer Lingus offers stopovers in Dublin, free of charge. There’s no additional charge for up to a five-day stopover based on the airline’s fares.
Air Canada
Air Canada passengers are welcome to enjoy a free stopover in Toronto, if they have flights that connect in the major hub. The stopover must be added to the reservation at the time of booking.
Travelers flying in Latitude, premium-economy, and business-class can get 1 night free in a participating hotel. Passengers flying on Basic, Standard, Flex, or Comfort fares can get one night at a reduced rate at a hotel. Passengers’ layovers must be longer than 6 hours in order to be eligible for the free stopover program.
Avianca Airlines
Avianca Airlines has a program called ¡Bogota Stopover!, where passengers can stay in Bogotá, Colombia for up to 24 hours, with no additional cost. They offer 8, 12 and 24-hour plans.
Copa Airlines
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Panama, this is your chance.
The airline’s Panama Stopover program allows visitors to have a stopover in Panama for 1 to 7 days, during either direction of their travels, with no cost of additional airfare.
Emirates
Emirates offers a stopover program in Dubai, called Dubai Experience. If you plan and book your trip with the program, you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive benefits including 10% discount on new flight bookings, 24‑hour hotel check-in, and flexible cancellation. You can also add an existing flight booking.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways allows passengers to have a stopover in Abu Dhabi at no additional cost for airfare. Passengers can get up to 40% off of exclusive hotel deals for 1 to 6 nights or they can stay in a 3 or 4-star hotel, for free, for up to 2 nights.
Ethiopian Airlines
If you’re connecting in Addis Ababa for between eight and 24 hours, and there is no immediate connecting flight to continue the journey, Ethiopian will arrange for you to stay in a hotel for free.
Finnair
Finnair will allow a stopover for six, 12 or 24 hours at no additional cost when you’re connecting in Helsinki.
Iberia
With Iberia’s Stopover Hola Madrid (Hello Madrid) program, passengers can say from one to six nights in Madrid. They can use this free stopover in either direction of their travels. What’s more, Stopover Hola Madrid offers exclusive advantages and discounts on accommodation, transport, shopping, leisure and cultural activities.
Icelandair
When you fly transatlantic with Icelandair, you can choose to add a 1 to 7-day stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.
Oman Air
Oman Air offers free stopovers at Muscat International Airport (MCT). You can book a stopover for 1 to 3 nights and there are several stopover packages to choose from. Most packages include discounted hotel rooms and free breakfast. You can choose from 3, 4, and 5-star hotels. There are also tours available.
Qatar Airways
Passengers of Qatar Airways can stop over in the capital city of Doha for 1, 2, 3 or 4 nights on their way to or from over 150 destinations. There are several 4- and 5-star hotels in Doha, that the airline has partnered with, for you to choose from. Their prices vary, based on the hotel star rating and the duration.
Singapore Airlines
The Singapore Stopover Holiday allows travelers to explore Singapore. The cost varies, based on how much your one-way ticket is (travelers will need to book a round-trip award ticket or a higher-priced one-way advantage award ticket to stopover in Singapore. Or they can pay to add it to a less expensive ticket).
At its most expensive, it cost $100 to add a Singapore stopover to a saver-level award ticket. However, the plan has a value of over $350, since it provides passengers with airport transfers, accommodations and admission to attractions all around the country.
TAP Air Portugal
With Portugal Stopover, you can add a free stopover in Lisbon or Porto from 1 to 10 days. You can opt for this stopover on an outbound or returning trip. If you take advantage of this offer, you’ll also have access to exclusive offers and discounts.
Turkish Airlines
If you’re coming from specific destinations, have a roundtrip ticket on their airline to certain countries, and have a layover of 20 hours or more at Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkish Airlines will provide one night in a four-star hotel if you’re flying economy class, or two nights in a five-star hotel for passengers flying business and first-class.
Booking with Miles
You can, of course, also get a good deal on stopovers if you book with miles. That will be another post.
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