International airfares continue to climb, with the new Air Passenger Duty Tax coming into effect from the 1st April.
Are you looking for creative ways to stretch your travel budget further?
Take advantage of the airlines which are offering free stopovers - break up your journey time, explore a new city at no extra cost, and transform a connection into a mini-holiday before you reach your intended destination.
So how do free stopovers work? And, which airlines actually offer this 'stopover service'?
Free stopovers allow travellers to extend their layovers in a connecting city for a designated period - from 20 hours to a few days, without additional airfare charges. With this, you can explore a new destination, discover a new culture, while en route to your final destination.
Imagine booking a flight from London, to Dubai, with a stopover in Istanbul. Instead of sitting around, bored, waiting for your next flight, which is HOURS away, you can actually leave the airport! You can spend the day exploring the beautiful city - its historic streets, traditional cuisine, and iconic landmarks. Before you even reach Dubai, you will have already had a travel experience.
Here are some of the many stopover programmes available:
Turkish Airlines
All fliers that have a stop of more than 20 hours are entitled to a free hotel stay - one night in a 4* hotel for economy passengers, and 2 nights in a 5* hotel for business passengers. All you have to do is apply 72 hours before your flight, by emailing the designated program representative of your country of departure. Find out more here.
Iceland Air
Fancy a quick trip to Reykjavik? Here you can explore a glacier, soak in geothermal hot springs, or even catch the Northern lights? Iceland Air offers stopover deals from one to seven days, for travellers flying between North America and Europe. When you are booking your flight, make sure to pick the "stopover in Iceland" option and choose how many days you'd like to stay for. On top of this, the airline also offers discounted hotel rates and complimentary access to attractions. Check out my Iceland guide here.
Qatar Airways
Discover the cultural delights of Qatar's vibrant capital, Doha. Qatar Airways offers hotel bundles for stopovers of up to four days, and discounted city tours. Experience one of the Middle East's top destinations - go shopping in the various malls, observe the unique old-meets-new architecture or walk along the harbour. Book your flight via Qatar Airways' website, then head over to their dedicated stopover section. Choose the hotel you'd like, input the flight information, and receive your discounted stay.
TAP Air Portugal
The only airline to offer free stopovers in two cities, in Lisbon or Porto, for up to 10 days. Receive a discounted hotel stay, and discounts to museums, restaurants, and walking tours. Browse the airlines' page to see the full list of offers available. If you go onto Tap Air's website, you just have to choose your dates, your departure city, and the destination you will be heading to, then click the "Stopover" option.
If you can explore a new destination for free, why wait at the airport?
Comments