Get two holidays for the price of one.
Long stopovers are often considered something to avoid, but what if I told you that they can be a blessing in disguise?
On top of giving you the chance to break up a long flight, they can also give you the chance to stay overnight and explore a new city absolutely free. Here's how:
The hack
More and more airlines are offering passengers the chance to cash in on a free hotel stay, transit into the city, enjoy meal discounts and more. All you have to do is include a long stopover at the airline's home city in your flight itinerary and follow the prompts.
Some airline stopover deals include:
- Cathay Pacific - Free airport transfers, pocket Wi-Fi and extra night stay: Book a three-night stay in Hong Kong on your stopover and Cathay Pacific will pay for your first night for select 4-5 star hotels. On top of this, Cathay Pacific will also provide complimentary express airport tickets, an extra day of pocket Wi-Fi for travellers from Singapore who purchase a three-day rental and dining discounts. More details here.
- Air India - Free hotel stay: Stay over 8 hours, but under 24 hours, in Delhi and Air India will foot your hotel bill. This is only valid on select flight routes and only on your outbound journey.
- Qatar Airways - Free hotel stay: Thanks to Doha's transit visa and a partnership with Doha Tourism Authority, passengers can get a free 5-star hotel stay when they book a multi-city trip with Doha as a stopover. To obtain the free transit visa, your stop must be between 5 and 96 hours. .
Many other airlines offer hotel stays in their home city to varying degrees, so if you've the time and the interest, it's worth looking into potential layover deals like these.
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