Stop, Stay, and Explore: Discover the Best Airlines Offering Free Stopovers!

In the whirlwind of modern travel, airport stopovers are often seen as a bad thing for travelers. Why?

It’s because stops like these seem dull and wasteful. However, it doesn't have to stay that way!

A well-planned stopover can be more than just a break between flights. In fact, stopovers can be a chance to discover new cultures, cuisines, and experiences.

So, what exactly is a stopover?

A stopover is when your travel includes a break lasting at least 24 hours for international flights and four hours for domestic flights.

A stopover is different from a layover. Layover is comparatively shorter compared to a stopover since a layover only lasts for 30 minutes to 24 hours.

The rules for stopovers vary depending on the airline, and is usually based on whether your ticket is an award ticket or a paid ticket. Some airlines let their loyalty program members add stopovers to their award tickets for little or no extra charge.

Here are some top airlines where you can get free stopovers on your next award or cash flight!

1. Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines is considered as one of the world’s most “stopover friendly” airlines.

With the airline’s flexible stopover policies, travelers can enjoy a free multi-city stopover when booking a JMB Partner Airline Award or Oneworld award with Japan Airline miles.

For instance, passengers flying on any single partner airline (excluding Jetstar Japan) through the JMB Partner Airline Award can enjoy up to three complimentary stopovers.

Here’s how the itinerary would look like if you are flying from New York City to Tokyo, with three stopovers in Miami, Orlando, and Los Angeles:

• The flight starts in New York, and the first stop will be in Miami.
• From Miami, the flight will continue to Orlando.
• From Orlando, you will fly to Los Angeles.
• After Los Angeles, you will head straight to Tokyo, which is your final destination.
• From Tokyo, you fly back to New York City with a layover in Dallas.

On the other hand, passengers booking through the Oneworld award with Japan Airline miles can enjoy up to seven complimentary stopovers.

Here’s an example of how the itinerary would look like if you have a flight from Miami to Tokyo, with stopovers in Milan, London, Hong Kong, Osaka, and Dallas:

• The flight starts from Miami to Milan with American Airlines.
• Then, you will travel from Milan to London with British Airways.
• Next, you will hop from London to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific.
• After that, you will fly from Hong Kong to Osaka with Cathay Pacific.
• Then, you continue your journey from Osaka to Tokyo with Japan Airlines.
• Finally, you return to Miami from Tokyo via Dallas with American Airlines.

Keep in mind that the mentioned airlines here, together with Japan Airlines, are all members of the Oneworld Alliance.

The Oneworld Alliance makes it easier for passengers to have a seamless travel experience through its special rewards.

2. TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal is known as the only airline to offer free stopovers in two cities: Porto and Lisbon.

With TAP Air Portugal’s flexible stopover program, travelers can stay up to 10 days in either of the mentioned cities before or after heading to another country in Europe. Moreover, you can get a 25% discount by adding another flight to any Portuguese city during your stopover.

Here is how a stopover would look like if you travel from New York to Madrid using the airline’s stopover program:

• From New York, you can book a stopover in either Portugal or Lisbon. The booking site will ask for details such as which direction you'd like to travel and for how long.
• Let us say you chose Portugal. From there, you can stay in the city for up to 10 days before you take another flight to Madrid.

3. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific is one of the few airlines that still gives reward miles based on how far you fly, not how much you spend on your ticket. Members accumulate points called “Asia Miles” by flying, shopping, using credit cards, and other activities.

With “Asia Miles,” travelers can book flights with up to five complimentary stopovers by using the Oneworld multi-carrier award.

You can use three or more Oneworld airlines if one flight is with Cathay Pacific, or two Oneworld airlines without Cathay Pacific. This means you can visit more cities in one trip with the same miles.

For instance, a flight from Dallas to Hong Kong can look like this when you book stopovers through the Oneworld multi-carrier award using Asia Miles:

• You take a flight from Dallas to Hong Kong with American Airlines.
• From Hong Kong, you travel to Bangkok with Cathay Pacific.
• Then, you fly from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines.
• Next, you head from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo with Japan Airlines.
• Finally, you return to Dallas from Tokyo with American Airlines.

Clearly, stopovers enable you to make the most out of your miles by visiting multiple destinations on a single trip.

4. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines’ “Alaska Mileage Plan” offers an excellent stopover policy where travelers can book one free stopover for a single journey and up to two stopovers for a round trip.

As a member of the Oneworld Alliance, Alaska’s partner airlines allow passengers to have free stopovers on award trips. This means you can stop for several days or even weeks at an airline’s hub on your route to the last stop.

A departing flight from Seattle to Thailand with a complimentary stopover would look like this:

• The flight starts from Seattle to Tokyo with Alaska Airlines. The booking site will ask for details for how long you would stay in Tokyo.
• Afterwards, you will fly from Tokyo to Bangkok with Japan Airlines.

Make sure to book your stopover at an Alaska partner's hub, like Japan Airlines in the Tokyo stopover, or your booking won't work.

5. Etihad

Etihad Airways has introduced a new stopover program, “Stopover on Us,” which provides free hotel stays for travelers visiting Abu Dhabi.

Travelers can book a roundtrip flight directly on Etihad’s website and add up to two nights of complimentary hotel accommodation in the city.

To enjoy one of the stopover programs, travelers can book a multi-city flight through the airline for an economy, business-class, or first-class fare that connects through the Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).

After you receive your booking reference and ticket number, use them to choose a hotel from the provided list on Etihad’s stopover page.

Here's what the flight from New York to India with a complimentary stopover would look like using the “Stopover on Us” program:

• From New York City, you can take a connecting flight through Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways.
• During the stopover, travelers are eligible for a two-night stay in Abu Dhabi.
• Then, from Abu Dhabi, you will fly to Mumbai, India, which is your last destination.

6. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines’ “Stopover in Istanbul” program allows travelers connecting through the Istanbul Airport to explore the city with complimentary accommodation.

However, the length of the stopover and the accommodation depends on the travelers’ flight bookings.

For instance: Economy class passengers get a free one-night stay at a four-star hotel. Meanwhile, business class passengers receive a complimentary two-night stay at a selected five-star hotel.

To book the stopover, simply email your personal information, ticket details, reservation code, and preferred dates and room type at least 72 hours before your initial flight.

Here’s what a flight from Chicago to Singapore with a complimentary stopover would look like using the “Stopover in Istanbul” program:

• From Chicago, you can take a connecting flight through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.
• During the stopover, economy class passengers are eligible for a one-night stay in Istanbul while business class passengers can stay for two nights in their preferred hotel.
• Then, from Istanbul, you will fly to Singapore, which is your last destination

Remember, your departure and arrival countries must be included in Turkish Airlines' Stopover Accommodation service for you to be eligible for the stopover program.

These airlines are just the start for travelers seeking the best stopover experiences. Many more airlines offer free stopovers, so discover what suits you best and makes your journeys unforgettable!

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Based on what we’ve discussed above, it is clear that stopovers don’t have to mean wasted time and boredom.

Through meticulous planning, you can make the most of your stopovers to visit more fantastic destinations without spending extra money. Although some extra hotel fees may apply, a free stopover can still help you save more money compared to booking separate flights.

So, what are you waiting for?

Book smart, use your miles, and enjoy your free stopovers to explore new places and experiences!