Stopover Programs
Maximizing the Connection
The next time a flight connection stands between you & your final international destination, don't dread it, maximize it with a Stopover Program! Stopover Programs can provide the ability to spend extra time in the connection city with one flight booking and sometimes receive complimentary or discounted accommodations and/ or other perks in the connection city of the airline's home airport on certain airlines. Some Stopover Programs are way better than others, so it's good to be familiar with the options when selecting your next long-haul connecting international flight for which airline and country has these perks to consider! However, while the stopover is considered free, the flight price will vary based on the departure day. A flight with a stopover could be more expensive, less or the same as one without a stopover depending on the departure dates. Below are 10 of some of the better & lesser known airline Stopover Programs around the world to check out.
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*Note: The information below is intended to be a summary of each airline's Stopover Program at the time of writing in October 2025, but may change or have nuances and should be confirmed on each airline's website at the time of booking.
Turkish Airlines Stopover Program provides passengers with a connection of at least 20 hours in Istanbul to stay for free for 1-3 nights in a 4 or 5 star partner hotel. The stay varies based on the ticket class & departure location and does not apply to N & R fare classes. The Stopover can be applied once either to the outbound or return flight, must be submitted for approval at least 72 hours before departure, and cannot exceed 7 days. Current rules available here.
UAE
Photo Credit: Wix images
UAE & Qatar - Emirates, Ethiad & Qatar Airlines
Emirates has Dubai Connect Service for connections of 8-26 hours (6 hours on Business or First Class) with a complimentary hotel stay, including meals & transportation to & from the hotel. Ethiad offers a complimentary 2-night hotel stay in Abu Dhabi, plus discounted rates for up to 4 nights, for connections of 24-96 hours on round-trip flights. Qatar Airways offers discounted hotel rates up to 4 nights in Doha for connections of 12-96 hours.
Spain
Iberia's Stopover Hola Madrid allows customers connecting in Madrid the ability to stay in Madrid for up to 9 nights either way and enjoy discounts on select accommodations, activities, transportation, shows, shopping & more, plus free drinks & snacks at select restaurants. Check out Iberia's website for more information & the ability to book, along with suggested Travel Guides.
Photo Credit: Wix images
Poland's LOT Airlines Stopover Program allows customers to spend 1-8 nights in Warsaw at the beginning of their trip with one flight booking. The program provides a 25% discount on flights within Poland once there and 30% discount for a meal onboard a domestic flight, plus discounts from partner tourism businesses & restaurants. For ideas on how to spend time & where to stay, eat & drink in Warsaw & elsewhere in Poland, check out the Poland Guide & Gifts.
Portugal's TAP Air's Stopover Program allows a free Stopover in Lisbon or Porto for the outbound or return trip for up to 10 days! It also provides discounts on domestic flights (25%), hotels (up to 20%) and other tourism partners (up to 50%) to reduce the cost of the time there. Head to the Portugal Guide and Gifts for where to stay, what to see, do, eat, drink & wear in the main cities of Lisbon & Porto, Algarve Coast & Madeira Island!
Japan
Japan - Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines Stopover Program functions as a multi-city booking typically through Tokyo or Osaka with no restriction on the stopover time period. They also provide special fares to visitors of Japan on domestic flights through the JAL Explorer Pass. Recommended places to stay, things to do & more in Tokyo, Kyoto & the surrounding areas are covered in the Tokyo Guide & Gifts and Kyoto Guide & Gifts.
Icelandair's Stopover Program allows customers flying through Iceland's capital of Reykjavik the ability to extend the connection for up to 7 days before proceeding on to other parts of Europe. For ideas on when and how to visit, where to stay, what to do and more, head to the Iceland Guide & Gifts.
Ireland's Aer Lingus doesn't have a formal Stopover Program, but similar to JAL can use the Multi-City Booking to include a stop-in Dublin on the way elsewhere or the way back, which is convenient with US customs pre-clearance at the Dublin airport. Check out the Ire-Scot-land Guide & Gifts for a combined Travel Guide on Ireland & Scotland centered around the capital cities of Dublin & Edinburgh!
France
France - Air France
Air France has a Stopover Program exclusively for its Flying Blue loyalty members solely on Award Travel booked with miles or miles + cash connecting through Paris on Air France or Amsterdam on KLM. For a curated list of places to stay & things to do while in Paris, head to the Paris Guide & Gifts.
Morocco's Royal Air Maroc has a Stopover option with 1-2 days in Casablanca before continuing on to another country with the airline. Google search results note the airline offers free transportation & a free hotel stay, but I couldn't find anything about this on their website to try calling to see if this is still an option. For insights to plan a trip to Morocco, head to the Morocco Guide & Gifts.