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Welcome to the world of stopovers, the last word deal on this planet of reserving journey. Free stopovers will let you see two cities for the worth of 1: Increasingly airways are including low cost and even free stopover applications to spice up tourism at their hub cities, permitting you to discover one metropolis for a number of days (or weeks … and even months!) earlier than persevering with onward. And a rising variety of airline mileage applications will allow you to add in a stopover, too.
However how do they work? What airways will let you e book stopover flights? What are the foundations? And the way do you go about reserving a stopover, anyway?
Meet your new greatest buddy, the stopover.
What’s a Stopover Flight?
Many vacationers dread making any stops en path to their ultimate vacation spot, preferring nonstop flights. The stopover turns that on its head.
Consider stopovers as a layover on steroids. Simply what qualifies as a stopover is dependent upon the place you are flying:
- Domestically, a stopover is any connection of 4 or extra hours.
- Internationally, a stopover is any connection earlier than making it to your vacation spot of greater than 24 hours
For instance, as an instance you are flying from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) on Icelandair. You would simply make a fast connection in Reykjavik (KEF) in your approach to Paris … however Icelandair is famed for its stopover program. So why not spend just a few days, possibly even per week, exploring Iceland earlier than heading to France – or stopover in Iceland as you make your means again dwelling?
It is the worldwide layovers we care most about right here. Many airways cost a further $50 or much less so as to add a stopover, although in some instances it may be free and even cheaper than a easy roundtrip reserving. Constructing in a stopover to your flight itinerary takes an added step however permits you to go to one other metropolis for just a few days primarily free of charge.
How one can Guide a Stopover Flight
You may e book a free (or low cost) stopover when flying an airline that has a stopover program. And the ranks of airways providing stopovers retains rising.
We’ll get into a few of our favourite airways with stopover applications shortly, however let’s go over easy methods to e book these flights first.
- Discover the airline that gives a stopover in a metropolis of curiosity to you (and flies on to a ultimate vacation spot you wish to go to)
- Search for an inexpensive roundtrip flight on that airline to that ultimate vacation spot utilizing Google Flights.
- Construct a multi-city itinerary utilizing Google Flights so as to add in your stopover, both in your departing or return flight!
For instance, if I needed to stopover in Iceland on Icelandair on my approach to Paris, my multi-city itinerary might appear like this:
There are just a few guidelines you will want to bear in mind:
- Most airways solely will let you add a stopover on a roundtrip reserving – not on one-way tickets
- Many airways cap these stopovers at seven to 10 days, whereas others are way more beneficiant.
- A handful of airways cost an additional $50 or $100 or so when including a stopover, whereas on others it is free … or would possibly even end in a decrease ticket value
- Wanting to make use of miles? A handful of airways will let you simply add in a stopover with out charging one other mile, even on one-way flights.
Airways with Free (or Low-cost) Stopover Packages
Free stopover applications will let you double-dip on locations overseas by getting you to 2 cities for the worth of 1. So which airways are greatest for working in a free stopover? We’re so glad you requested.
This is not an exhaustive listing of airways that supply stopovers – simply a few of our favorites.
Aer Lingus
Need to go to Dublin for (almost) free? Discover a low cost Aer Lingus flight to Europe and construct out a multi-city itinerary with a stopover in Dublin. Aer Lingus permits you to stopover for as much as seven days in Dublin.
Within the instance above, you could possibly spend time in each Amsterdam and Dublin for underneath $400 in flights. Sure, actually! You simply need to name Aer Lingus so as to add in a stopover on the lowest charges.
Aer Lingus is stepping up its transatlantic flight sport popping out of the pandemic with an increasing number of nonstop routes to and from U.S. cities.
Hawaiian Airways
Why not make a pitstop in paradise in your approach to the South Pacific?
Hawaiian Airways presents an easy-to-use means so as to add in a stopover in Honolulu (HNL) en path to Australia, New Zealand, the Cook dinner Islands, and even Tahiti. There is not any restrict on the variety of days you possibly can stopover in Honolulu – and you’ll stopover on each your departing and returning flight if you’d like a double dose of Honolulu! Better of all, it should solely add an additional $20 to $60 to your complete value.
For instance, we despatched Thrifty Traveler Premium members an unbelievable deal not too long ago to go to Hawaii and the Cook dinner Islands for underneath $900 – the identical value as easy roundtrip flights!
To e book a stopover by means of Hawaiian Airways, simply head to the airline’s web site and use the multi-city search.
Iberia
Iberia is Spain’s flag provider with an enormous hub in Madrid (MAD). Belief me: You wish to spend just a few days in Madrid.
And Iberia makes it simple (and free!) to take action with the Hola Madrid Stopover program. On virtually any long-haul itinerary that connects by means of Madrid, you possibly can add a stopover of 1 to 6 days in Spain’s capital metropolis. The one massive exception is that you should join past Spain – a flight to Barcelona (BCN) or Mallorca (PMI) with a connection in Madrid will not reduce it.
To e book flights with a stopover in Madrid, use Iberia’s devoted stopover web page.
Icelandair
With out stopovers, there isn’t any Icelandair.
Icelandair has created the best-known stopover program, fueling file tourism to Iceland and exhibiting all different airways the way it’s carried out. It is laborious to go up a free stopover in one of the vital distinctive international locations on this planet in your means throughout the pond to Europe.
You may cease over for as much as seven days in Iceland free of charge when flying Icelandair. It was simpler to seek out and e book Icelandair stopovers through Google Flights. Fortunately, it is nonetheless tremendous easy to e book straight on Icelandair’s web site.
And in some instances, it makes your airfare cheaper by including a stopover in Reykjavik. For instance, these roundtrip fares to Scotland we despatched to Thrifty Traveler Premium members just a few months again have been $467. Add on this stopover, and the worth dropped under $400 complete!
Learn our full information to reserving a stopover on Icelandair – and get our recommendations on what to do throughout your temporary Iceland journey!
There’s one new restriction to bear in mind when reserving an Icelandair stopover, although:
- With the most affordable economic system mild fares, you possibly can solely add a stopover of as much as three days
- With economic system normal, fares and up (together with Icelandair Saga enterprise class seats), you possibly can add a stopover in Iceland of as much as seven days
Qatar Airways
Everybody ought to have flying on one of many world’s greatest airways, Qatar Airways, on their bucket listing. If that is not sufficient cause to fly Qatar, you possibly can stopover in Doha for as much as 4 days free of charge.
To e book, seek for a multi-city journey and add a cease in Doha (DOH) on both your departure or return flight. Choose a flight choice with not less than a 12-hour layover in Doha, and e book. Then, reap the benefits of the four- and five-star resort choices: Costs for a one-night resort keep begin at simply $14, and this supply is just out there for stopover visitors.
Learn extra about Qatar Airways’ stopover program on its web site.
TAP Air Portugal
Do not sleep on Portugal.
You want to go to Portugal earlier than this nation explodes in recognition. And TAP Air Portugal permits you to go to both Lisbon or Porto for as much as 10 days free earlier than making your approach to one other European metropolis. It is one of the vital beneficiant stopover applications on this listing.
Once more, reserving a stopover is best when utilizing the multi-city function on Google Flights or reserving straight on TAP’s web site. If you happen to search on the airline’s web site, they will let you realize with a pop-up in case your journey is eligible so as to add in a stopover. Usually, it will solely value you one other $10 or $20 extra!
The toughest half might be deciding which metropolis to cease at! Take a look at our guides to each Lisbon and Porto to determine which you wish to go to.
Turkish Airways
Turkish Airways is among the world’s greatest airways. Istanbul is among the most electrical cities on this planet.
So go determine Turkish presents the most effective stopover applications to offer you just a few days in Istanbul earlier than persevering with onward in Europe, the Center East, Asia, or Africa – or in your means dwelling. As long as you e book a roundtrip ticket flying Turkish with not less than a 20-hour layover in Istanbul, you possibly can flip that into:
- A two-night stopover on economic system tickets, with a voucher for a one-night keep at a four-star resort included
- A 3-night stopover when flying Turkish enterprise class, together with a two-night keep at a five-star resort!
That is proper: Turkish’s stopover program consists of free lodging. So as to add yours to your journey, simply contact Turkish not less than 72 hours earlier than your first flight by means of its devoted stopover web page.
Reserving a Stopover on Award Tickets
Wanting to make use of your factors and miles? A choose few airline applications make it extremely simple (and low cost – if not free).
Once more, this is not an exhaustive listing of frequent flyer applications that will let you add a stopover when utilizing factors and miles. However these are far and away the very best, in our expertise.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: For simply 5,000 extra miles, you possibly can add a stopover to any award ticket – one-way or roundtrip. And reserving on-line is often very simple, which is not the case with each airline on this listing.
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue: You may add a free stopover to any Flying Blue award ticket – not simply when flying Air France or KLM, however on associate airways like Delta, Virgin Atlantic, or Korean Air, too. The one hitch is that, for now, you will have to make a cellphone name so as e book these awards.
- Alaska Airways Mileage Plan: A technique, roundtrip, home, or worldwide – it would not matter, you possibly can add a stopover when utilizing Alaska miles to e book any airline.
- All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Membership: One of many hardest elements of utilizing ANA miles is that it’s a must to e book roundtrip – one-way redemptions aren’t allowed, interval. However you possibly can add a stopover free of charge, and ANA is extremely beneficiant with what sorts of stopovers are allowed.
- Singapore Airways KrisFlyer: You may add one free stopover on the lowest-priced “Saver” roundtrip award tickets – or on the higher-priced “Benefit” one-way awards. Sadly, Singapore reduce the power so as to add a stopover to any award ticket for $100.
- United MileagePlus: It is higher than a stopover – it is referred to as the United excursionist perk. This distinctive profit permits you to nest a free one-way flight inside a roundtrip award ticket booked utilizing United miles. For instance, you could possibly e book a roundtrip flight utilizing United miles from Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) to Amsterdam (AMS) and add in a free flight from Amsterdam all the way down to Athens (ATH).
This is an itinerary for a free stopover in London on roundtrip enterprise class flights to Sweden booked by means of ANA, for instance.
Backside Line
If you have not but taken benefit of a free stopover on one in every of these airways, it is time to strive one out! Stopover flights will let you get the most effective offers within the journey world: see two cities for the worth of 1.