What is a stopover?

Most flights nowadays involve layovers in different cities and countries. Tickets with connections are often much cheaper than direct flights, although the journey is more tiring. But not every traveler knows that a layover can be extended for several days, giving you the opportunity to explore the city where the transfer takes place. This opportunity is called a stopover.

Stopover is a stop at an intermediate point of your route for more than 23 hours and 59 minutes (3 hours and 59 minutes for flights within North America, or 5 hours and 59 minutes for flights within Central America and Panama).

Unfortunately, not all airlines and fares allow a stopover; in some cases, it is prohibited or implies an additional fee, usually around 50 euros. However, there are pleasant exceptions. For example, with a stopover in Singapore, you not only get the opportunity to explore the city but also receive free airport transfers, as well as free tickets to the zoo, orchid garden, bird park, etc. Airlines also have good offers for stopovers in Doha or Dubai, as well as Turkish Airlines in Istanbul.

How to book a stopover?

First, you need to check the airline’s fare rules to see if a stopover is allowed. If it is, proceed to book your flight ticket.

In principle, there are two ways to book a stopover:

1. Book a so-called “multi-city” or “multiple destinations” itinerary. This option allows you to book segments of your journey separately, effectively buying several flight tickets for the price of one. When booking a flight with a stopover, pay attention to the duration of the stop; typically, the lowest fares are for stops of 1–2 days, and the longer the stopover, the more expensive the fare.

2. Book a flight on Kupi.com with a layover where the fare rules state that a stopover is permitted. After purchase, contact the airline to book it.