How to Book Stopover Flights (and What Exactly Are They)

A stopover is more than just a layover. It's an opportunity to explore a new location for 24 hours or more in between flights and get the most out of your trip. Many airlines offer free or discounted stopovers, sometimes with perks like hotel stays or city tours, making it easy to turn a routine connection into a mini vacation. Whether you're sipping espresso in Lisbon en route to Rome or spending 48 hours in Tokyo before heading to Bangkok, the right booking strategy can unlock two destinations for the price of one.

You can book a stopover flight by adding an extra city into your itinerary when purchasing your ticket-either directly through an airline's multi-city or stopover booking tool, or by creating your own, using separate tickets. This planned break in your journey lets you spend time in a connecting city before flying onward to your final destination.

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Why Stopovers Are Worth Considering

Stopovers can be a clever travel strategy for a few reasons:

• More destinations, same trip: See an extra city without booking a separate getaway.
• Jet lag buffer: Break up long-haul flights and adjust gradually to new time zones.
• Potential savings: Multi-city tickets can be cheaper than direct flights in some cases.
• Airline perks: Some carriers bundle hotel discounts, sightseeing tours, or transfers.

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Essentially, it's an efficient way to make your travel days more enjoyable and less rushed.

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Option 1: Book Directly With the Airline

Many airlines actively promote stopovers in their hub cities. Examples include:

• Icelandair: Up to seven days in Reykjavik with no extra airfare.
• Turkish Airlines: Free hotel nights in Istanbul for stopovers of more than 20 hours.
• Singapore Airlines: Discounted hotel and attraction passes in Singapore.

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How to do it:

1. Visit the airline's official website.
2. Choose the multi-city or stopover option in their booking tool.
3. Select your outbound or returning flight with your desired stopover city and dates.

Note: Because both legs are on the same ticket, your luggage is usually checked through to your final destination, unless you ask to collect it at the stopover.

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Option 2: Create Your Own Stopover ("Hacker Fare")

If your airline doesn't offer stopovers-or you find better deals on separate tickets-you can build your own itinerary:

Example itineraries:

• Boston → San Francisco → Honolulu: Spend two days in San Francisco before heading to Hawaii.
• Seattle → London → Athens: Explore London for three days before continuing to Greece.

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Tips for DIY stopovers:

• Allow a safe buffer between flights (24-72 hours is ideal).
• Use multiple flight search tools to compare prices.
• Travel light to avoid checking bags at separate stops.

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Long Layovers vs. Stopovers

A long layover is a same-day connection where you stay in the airport city for less than 24 hours (international flights) or more than four hours (domestic). A stopover is an overnight or multi-day stay, typically 24 hours or longer.

Long layovers are fine for a quick visit-perhaps a few hours at a museum or a meal downtown. But for sightseeing, nightlife, or a fuller experience, book your flight with a stopover.

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How Early Should You Get to the Airport?

When your trip involves multiple flights (even days apart), it's best to avoid last-minute stress. CLEAR+ operates as an airport fast pass experience, so you can arrive later and still make it to your gate with time to spare.

For a detailed breakdown by trip type and airport, check our guide: How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

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Planning Your Stopover: Tips for Maximum Enjoyment

1. Pick the Right City

Choose a city with quick, affordable transport between the airport and downtown. Some favorites:

• Reykjavik: Perfect for breaking up flights between North America and Europe.
• Doha: Qatar Airways offers visa-free entry for many nationalities.
• Tokyo: An easy add-on between Asia-Pacific and North America routes.

2. Pre-Book Key Activities

Your time is limited. Reserve tours, attraction tickets, and dining spots in advance. Use point.me to find reward flights that allow for stopovers using points or miles.

3. Travel Light

Dragging a suitcase around a city can be a hassle. Use Ship&Play through CLEAR Perks to ship luggage to your final destination, and you'll have the freedom to explore hands-free.

4. Plan for Re-Entry

If your stopover is in the U.S., CLEAR+ lets you speed through security, so you can make your next flight with less stress.

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Example Stopover Itineraries

• Lisbon on the way to Rome: Boston → Lisbon (spend 48 hours in Alfama and Belém) → Rome
• Honolulu before Sydney: Los Angeles → Honolulu (surf, hike, and relax for three days) → Sydney
• Tokyo before Bangkok: San Francisco → Tokyo (visit Shibuya and Tsukiji Market) → Bangkok

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Do Stopovers Cost Extra?

Many airline stopover programs come with no additional airfare cost. Other times, a multi-city fare can be slightly higher but still cheaper than booking two separate round-trip tickets.

Research from Simple Flying shows that stopovers can significantly enhance your travel experience without a large cost increase. Academic research in the Journal of Advanced Transportation notes that understanding air travel demand is key to planning routes and improving connectivity-factors that make it possible for airlines to offer stopovers without significantly increasing fares.

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Why CLEAR Is the Perfect Stopover Companion

Adding a stopover means one more airport visit-and potentially, one more security line. CLEAR+ turns travel days into great days by letting you speed through security up to 5x faster, saving valuable time.

CLEAR+ Members can use Ship&Play to travel light between flights, and enjoy a seamless journey from curb to gate.

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Ready to Book Your Next Stopover?

Stopover flights let you get the most out of your trip. Whether you book them directly with an airline or create one yourself using separate tickets, stopovers can transform a long trip into a more fulfilling experience.

By planning ahead-choosing the right city, managing your luggage, and becoming a CLEAR+ Member-you can enjoy the stopover as much as the main destination itself.