Airport lounges are ideal for a few hours, but for long layovers, there are often alternative options. Some airlines offer complimentary hotel stays, while others, along with certain airports, provide benefits such as free city tours, showers, food vouchers and other useful extras. These options can turn an otherwise tedious connection into an opportunity to see another city, enjoy a proper rest between flights, or make your layover a little more comfortable. Some of these options aren’t well publicised, so it’s worth taking a look at what’s available once you know what to look for.
This is part 2 of our stopover/layover series. You can read part 1 on the world’s best stopover programmes here.
In this post:
Free Hotel Stays
If you’re thinking of booking a flight but face a long connection, it’s worth checking whether the airline offers a complimentary transit hotel. These are sometimes available for layovers of a minimum length when you’re booked on the best available connection. Many airlines also include transfers and meals. It’s a great way to relax between flights, break up a long journey, and, in some cases, even have time to head into the city for a few hours.
Emirates Dubai Connect
Layover Duration: 6-26 hours
Criteria: Booked on the best available connection and your ticket meets Emirates’ fare and eligibility rules.
You’ll receive complimentary hotel accommodation (usually in a 4-5* hotel), plus coach transfers between the airport and hotel, meals, and a complimentary 48-hour UAE transit visa where required.
How to Book: You can easily add this via Manage Booking or during the booking process at least 12 hours before you fly. Visas should be arranged at least 48 hours before arrival. Go to the Dubai Connect desk once you land.
Note: If you’re not eligible, there’s also the paid Emirates stopover programme, which you can read about in part 1.
Qatar Airways, Doha
Layover Duration: 8-24 hours
Criteria: No shorter connection is available, and your ticket meets eligibility rules.
The package includes a hotel, transfers and a temporary entry visa. You may also receive a meal allowance.
How to Book: Fill out the online form to request STPC transit accommodation. Find it here. Requests must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance, though there may also be availability at the transfer desk upon arrival.
Gulf Air, Bahrain
Layover Duration: 7-24 hours (6-24 Hours for Falcon Gold )
Criteria: There is no shorter eligible connection, and you hold a one-way ticket (or a ticket requiring 1 stopover) valued at $450 (£340) or a return ticket valued at $850 (£640) if two stopovers are needed. This includes taxes and charges. Paid options from $90 (£70) are available if you don’t qualify.
The package includes a hotel, airport transfers and, where eligible, a complimentary transit visa.
How to Book: You can check availability on the website or by phone. Once you land, you can also enquire at the transfer desk.
Royal Jordanian, Amman
Layover Duration: 8-24 hours in Economy or 6-24 hours in Crown
Criteria: An eligible fare and route on the best available connection.
A complimentary overnight hotel stay, airport transfers and meal vouchers. A visa will be arranged if required.
How to Book: Go to the transit desk on arrival to get your vouchers.
China Southern
Layover Duration: 6-30 hours
Criteria: Eligible itineraries with a qualifying connection. Eligibility varies by fare class, status and cabin.
Cities: This is available in multiple cities, including Guangzhou, Urumqi, Shenyang, Harbin, Beijing, Dalian, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhengzhou and Shenzhen
You’ll receive one night’s accommodation with breakfast and transfers. Business Class passengers are offered a higher-category hotel.
How to Book: In Guangzhou and Shenyang, you can reserve your hotel online before travelling. Elsewhere, go to the China Southern transfer desk on arrival.
Air China, Beijing and More
Layover Duration: 6-30 hours
Criteria: International itineraries via Beijing on a single ticket where no better connection is available.
Cities: Mainly Beijing, but Air China also has similar options from Chengdu Tianfu, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Wenzhou.
Accommodation with shuttle transfers and breakfast. Hotels are generally airport hotels. Airport hotels in Beijing can be expensive, so this can be great value.
How to Book: You can apply online before travel via Air China’s transit accommodation service or visit the transfer desk on arrival if spaces are still available.
Ethiopian Airlines, Addis Ababa
Layover Duration: 8-24 hours
Criteria: Fly on an eligible international itinerary. Accommodation will be provided even if a shorter connection is available.
A complimentary night’s stay at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, directly opposite the terminal, or another designated hotel, is included, along with breakfast, return airport transfers, and, where appropriate, a complimentary transit visa.
How to Book: You’ll either receive a hotel voucher at check-in or collect one from the Ethiopian Airlines transit desk on arrival.
Rwand Air, Kigali
Layover Duration: 8-24 hours
Criteria: You must be on a return international itinerary on a minimum qualifying fare.
One night’s hotel accommodation and return transfers for Economy passengers and two nights for Business Class passengers. A stopover charge of $100 (£75) is automatically built into eligible fares.
How to Book: Email your ticket details to [email protected] at least 48 hours before you fly. You can also request the voucher on arrival in Kigali. If needed, visas must be arranged separately.
China Eastern, Shanghai
Layover Duration: 8 hours+
Criteria: A ticket issued by China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines on an eligible international route and ticket type.
A complimentary one-night stay at a 4-5* airport hotel, usually including breakfast and transfers.
How to Book: This is a great offer, though the booking process can be a little temperamental. Sometimes you’ll see the option to book on the app. Otherwise, you’ll need to go to the transit desk on arrival.
Sri Lankan Airlines
Layover Duration: 8-24 hours
Criteria: Booked on the best available connection on an eligible itinerary and at the minimum fare.
Complimentary accommodation (most hotels), usually with breakfast, and airport-hotel-airport transfers.
How to Book: Contact SriLankan at least 48 hours before travel. An ETA or transit visa is required, depending on nationality.
Royal Air Maroc, Casablanca
Layover Duration: 8 hours in Business or 12 in Economy
Criteria: Available on selected international itineraries
A complimentary hotel stay. You may also receive meal vouchers and shuttle service, but these are not guaranteed. If no rooms are available, you will receive a complimentary visit to the Relax Lounge.
How to Book: Go to the transit desk in Terminal 2 on arrival. This is very much subject to availability and not something you should consider guaranteed. You must also meet transit visa and entry requirements.
Free City Tours
If your airline doesn’t offer a free hotel stay, many airports have partnered with tourism boards or tour companies to provide free city tours. Some airlines even offer their own tour options, allowing you to see a new city, get return transfers, see the highlights, and be back in time for your connecting flight.
These tours are particularly useful if you’re travelling somewhere you’d like to visit in future but don’t have time for a full trip. Even a few hours can give you a flavour of a city.
If this is something you’re tempted by, you could even plan your itinerary around some of these tours, making sure you have a connection long enough to join.
These tours are worth looking into before you travel. Some require you to be travelling with a certain airline, others you’ll need to pre-book, and all have a minimum layover requirement.
Turkish Airlines Touristanbul
Criteria: A connection of 6-24 hours between two international flights with Turkish Airlines. Your next flight must be at least 1 hour, 25 minutes after the end of the tour.
The programme provides free city tours which include transport, a guide, food, and entrance fees.
There are plenty of guided tour options throughout the day, including panoramic sightseeing, Old City visits and seasonal Bosphorus cruises. There are so many options available that you could stop in Istanbul multiple times and try them all!
The tours include return airport transfers with a guide, complimentary food, and entry fees.
How to Book: You can either pre-enrol online or go to the desk upon arrival and choose the most suitable tours for your layover. The best option is to review the tours and times in advance and plan your flights around them. For example, you may have a long stopover but not land in time for the start of the full-day tour.
Singapore
Criteria: A layover of 5.5-24 hours
There are four 2.5-hour tours to choose from, including Sentosa Discovery, City Sights, River and Marina Bay or Heritage and Culture.
While Changi Airport is already excellent for a layover, a tour could be a good option for part of it if you want to see Singapore or transit through the airport often. The airport is exceptionally well organised, and the city is close to it.
How to Book: If you’re flying with Singapore Airlines or Scoot, you can pre-book online, though the tour itself is run by Changi Airport. Once you’ve landed, remain in the transit area and go to the tour desk. You must register at least 90 minutes before the tour starts.
Hong Kong
Criteria: A layover of more than 7 hours
There are three 4-hour tours to choose from, but each runs only once per day. You’ll have the choice of Tranquil Island Stroll, Heritage and Local Lifestyle Citywalk, and Victoria & West Kowloon Waterfront Journey.
How to Book: You can pre-book up to 3 months before the tour start date or register as a walk-in at the airport transfer desks. You’ll meet your guide after clearing immigration.
Incheon Airport, Seoul
Criteria: A layover of 4-24 hours
You can join a free tour run by Incheon Airport. There’s a range of options depending on the day and time. Some shorter options guide you through areas near the airport, while others take you directly into the city. You will have to pay for meals and attraction fees.
How to Book: You must register at least 30 minutes before the tour starts, or book in advance.
Taipei, Taiwan
Criteria: A layover of 7-24 hours and hold a valid visa for Taiwan, or be of a nationality exempt from a visa.
This free half-day guided bus tour is the ideal way to get a taste of Taipei.
You can only join one tour per stopover. If no seats are available, you can opt for the self-guided option.
How to Book: Online registration is available 5-90 days before arrival, and there are 18 seats per tour. On the day, reservations are also available.
Beijing Capital International Airport
Criteria: International passengers transiting through Beijing with a layover of 8+ hours
The options in Beijing are varied and exciting. If you’ve always wanted to visit the Great Wall of China but don’t have time for a separate trip, one of the tour options will take you there at no extra charge. You can also opt for the Beijing Central Axis tour for an overview of the city. You could also do both tours if your layover allows.
How to Book: Trip.com operates the tour. You can register once you land at the counter in Terminal 3.
Shanghai Pudong – Shanghai Express
Criteria: International transit passengers with a layover of 8 hours+
Trip.com runs this half-day sightseeing tour. You’ll even get internet and an eSIM included. There are three routes available depending on when your layover is. There’s a Shanghai highlights tour in the morning, a city walk in the late afternoon/evening, and a river night cruise in the evening.
How to Book: There are generally 10 seats per tour on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the Shanghai Tourist Information & Service Store located in the International Arrivals Hall of T1. Registration opens 1 hour before departure.
Guangzhou Baiyun, China Southern
Criteria: A layover of 8 hours+ on an international itinerary
China Southern runs a range of free half-day city tours, giving you a taste of Guangzhou. The tour departs daily at 08:30 from the International Services Counter in Terminal 2 Arrivals and returns around 14:00.
How to Book: Places are limited, so go to the transit desk as soon as you arrive.
Paid City Tours
Not many airports offer free layover sightseeing tours, but there are often plenty of paid options on sites like GetYourGuide and Viator. There are also some paid airport or airline-run tours.
- Qatar: Doha tours from QAR 115, including cultural highlights, a longer desert safari tour or an inland sea excursion.
- Manila: Run by Philippine Airlines – $50 (£38)
- Helsinki: Lots of city tour options, including pickup and half-day excursion options.
- Beijing: If your layover doesn’t coincide with the free tour times, there are plenty of companies offering paid options.
Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to clear immigration, return to the airport and pass through security before your next flight.
Other Layover Benefits
A handful of airlines and airports will give you complimentary dining credits, shopping discounts and other little extras.
- Turkish Airlines, Istanbul – Many passengers have received food vouchers for layovers of 5 hours or more at the Care Point desk. There’s no harm in asking!
- Royal Air Maroc, Casablanca – If you have a layover of more than 8 hours in Business Class or more than 12 hours in Economy, you’ll receive a complimentary meal voucher, regardless of whether you qualify for a hotel.
- Royal Air Maroc, Casablanca: Free meal vouchers for transit times of 4-8 hours, which can be used at selected restaurants, though the value translates to just £4.85 for breakfast and £9.70 for dinner.
- Taipei Taoyuan – All transit passengers can use complimentary shower facilities in both terminals.
- Seoul Incheon – Free shower rooms in both terminals.
- Etihad, Abu Dhabi – If you’re flying Etihad to Abu Dhabi and plan to leave the airport, you can claim a free Abu Dhabi Pass with a 10GB SIM, attraction discounts and access to the Abu Dhabi Tourist Shuttle.
Though these are just some of the discounts offered, this is well-worth looking into before your layover.
Final Words
Whether it’s a hotel room, a free city tour or discounted/free food and drink, many layover benefits can be surprisingly easy to miss. You can explore a new destination, save money, enjoy your layover to the fullest, and make the most of an otherwise inconvenient connection.
Next time your flight has a layover, take some time to research what’s available. You may find free tours, accommodation, and airport benefits that could make a huge difference during a long layover.
