If you're not used to flying long distances, you can use a stopover for a bit of relaxation. While these short layovers might be a small inconvenience, longer layovers (9+ hours) can be an opportunity. Adding a long layover, also called a stopover, in between flights is one of the easiest ways to see more of the world in one trip.
Layovers can range from 30 minutes to a full day or more. Longer layovers (generally at least a day) are also called stopovers—and they're a great way to see another destination on one trip. If you find yourself with a stopover, you may want to take advantage of the time and leave the airport to go sightseeing.
The perfect stopover destinations are places you've always fancied visiting but know deep down that you probably won't get around to going there. They're cities that are too far away from you for a weekend break. They're too expensive or not enough of a draw to commit all of your precious holiday time to. But if time and money were no obstacle you'd love to go there and do some sightseeing. Use Alternative Airline to book your multi-city flights now.
If you’ve got a shorter layover, you need to decide if journeying beyond the airport is worth your time. In general, leaving the airport requires a layover of at least 9 hours, but the minimum time varies by airport. Here are some things to think about when deciding the minimum time you need for a layover.
Deplaning and going through immigration could take up to two hours, especially in the busiest hubs. In general, you'll need to go through immigration any time you land in a new country, though there are some exceptions, such as when you're travelling within the Schengen Area.
You’ll need to figure out ahead of time how easy it is to get from the airport into the city. Cities with excellent transit systems (like Amsterdam and London) make it easy to get back and forth, but if there’s no rail system available, you’ll need to check for traffic delays.
Allow yourself at least 2-3 hours before departure back at the airport to recheck your luggage (if necessary), get through security, and find your gate.
The list of airlines offering free stopovers changes fairly regularly, as some are temporary promotions and others simply alter what’s included from time to time. While this list is a good starting point, it’s not exhaustive. Consider booking with airlines such as Air Canada, Iberia, Icelandair, TAP Portugal and Turkish Airlines. While Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines don’t offer free stopovers, both official websites allow travellers to book multi-city itineraries with no additional “stopover” fees. If the airline you wanted to fly with isn't part of this list then click on multicity on Alternative Airlines to change your flight search.
In many cases, a stopover is cheaper than a direct flight. It may also be more affordable to create your itinerary rather than booking it all in one ticket.
It's important to plan your layover and research the airline you want to fly with. You may have time to leave the airport therefore, it's useful to find out which airlines have extended layovers and which countries you could end up in. When searching for your flights you want to make sure the airline you have chosen has good flight times. Layovers can be short or long meaning a few hours or a day therefore, pick one that suits you.
If you’re looking for a connecting flight, It’s good to have some idea about the airlines that go to the destination you want to visit and where they stop off on the way. Here are a few of our favourite classic stopover locations to get your wanderlust underway:
If you have booked a flight with a long layover you don't want to be spending all of your precious stopover time going to and from the airport, with little time to explore the city you've dreamt of visiting. The perfect stopover destinations are the ones that are hassle-free so make sure you have a quick and easy way of getting from the airport to where you want to go.
However, we recommend choosing an airport with lots of facilities. If you're flying with kids maybe consider booking an airport lounge. You don't want to be at an airport with barely any restaurants or things to keep you entertained. If you are travelling as a family then make sure you're flying to or from a family-friendly airport. Heathrow Airport has lots of facilities, shops and restaurants. Another airport that's perfect for a long layover is John F. Kennedy Airport as they offer free wifi and amenities including a spa and children’s play area.
Check to see if a visa is required. Find out if you need a visa for your stopover destination before booking your flight. You don’t want to find out that your 48-hour bonus holiday is going to be a whole lot of paperwork and cost you $100s of dollars in visa fees. In some cases, like Doha, you can easily get a transit visa specifically for the stopover, but you’ll want to avoid places like Russia that require an expensive visa.
Visit the Alternative Airlines homepage to begin your flight search. Fill out the boxes with your destinations, dates and number of passengers. After clicking on "search flights" a row of airlines that fly that route and a list of flights available for the date chosen is displayed. Find the layover and flights that are most suitable for you. Next, fill in your passenger details and choose a form of payment. After payment has gone through, your booking confirmation will be sent to your email. Check out our blog for more tips and tricks when booking a flight with a long stopover.
If you would like to stop off somewhere specific or for a longer period our search results 'Stops' filter can be used when comparing the length of stay of each airline's itinerary. Use the "Multi-City" flight search when you are looking to be a trip with a multi-stop tour such as travelling.
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Start your search for the perfect flights by using our search form at the top of the page.
If you'd like to book flights with a long layover then use the Multi-City option at the top.
Multi-city flights, also known as '2-stop flights', allow you to hop around the world. Alternative Airline's multi-city flight search tool allows you to travel to more than one destination with only one search and purchase. You can do a whirlwind 24-hour stopover or a few weeks somewhere new and exotic; the possibilities are endless.
Connecting flights are also commonly confused with a long layover, connecting flights are flights which require passengers to leave the plane and board a different aircraft to reach their final destination.
Booking a flight with a short layover can often be the cheapest option. But how short is too short a layover? And what about short layovers on international flights? Find out everything you need to know in our helpful guide to short layovers...
Sometimes you’ll see options for free hotel stays or tours to make a stopover even harder to resist. These offerings change periodically, so this list isn’t exhaustive. Make sure to check the airline's website for more information.
For domestic-to-domestic layovers, you normally won't have to go through security again during your layover. However, for all international layovers, you will normally have to go through security again, but this will depend on individual airport policy.
This is called skip-lagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, and is when a customer books a connecting flight but gets off at the layover airport rather than their final destination. The hack can save customers hundreds of dollars on their tickets — but can come at a heavy price if airlines find out.
In many cases, a stopover is cheaper than a direct flight. It may also be more affordable to create your itinerary rather than booking it all in one ticket.
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