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The terms “layover” and “stopover” are often used interchangeably. However, while both refer to the amount of time between flights, the terms mean two different things.
These two words can have a significant impact on the options available when booking a flight with miles, so it's important to understand the difference. What's the difference between a layover and stopover, and how could these impact your travel options? Let's take a look.
Page Contents
What Is a Layover?
Generally, a layover is a period of time between flights that is less than four hours for domestic travel and less than 24 hours for international travel. Some airlines define these periods differently, but this is the most commonly used timeframe.
Related: How Many Miles Do You Need for a Free Flight?
What Is a Stopover?
In the most basic terms, a stopover is a long layover. This is typically defined as anything over four hours for domestic flights and over 24 hours for international flights. Many airlines offer free stopovers when booking an award ticket. Each airline has its own set of rules, which can be a tad confusing to remember. We'll clear things up and go over the details below.
Note: The word “connection” is used interchangeably for both layover and stopover. A connection simply means you have more than one flight from where you are to your destination, but what type of connection you have could be a stopover or a layover.
Related: What Is a Stopover and What Is an Open-Jaw?
Example of a Layover
The definition of a layover can vary between airlines. Most often, when it comes to international award bookings, a layover is any connection less than 24 hours. Many airlines allow multiple layovers as part of an award itinerary.
This means that you can, in theory, travel from Miami to Bangkok on an American Airlines AAdvantage award with a 23-hour layover in Los Angeles and a 23-hour layover in Tokyo. In this case, American would price such a ticket as a single, one-way award, regardless of those long connections as they were all under 24 hours. However, most airlines will not offer a 23-hour layover, as there are generally flights available with shorter connecting times.
In the example provided, if the connection in Tokyo extends to 24 hours and 10 minutes, AAdvantage will price the itinerary as two award tickets: one from Miami to Tokyo and one from Tokyo to Bangkok.
Related: What Flights Can I Book With Miles?
Taking Advantage of a Long Layover
Logically, you might think the shortest amount of connections during your trip will provide the best options, but that isn't always the case. You can get great value when taking advantage of multiple connections that are less than 24 hours.
Going back to our example above, there is a lot you can do with a lengthy layover in Los Angeles and Tokyo, like schedule a food tour or visit a few of the main tourist attractions. A shorter daytime layover of just eight hours could still provide enough time for you to get a taste of a city you otherwise would not be able to visit. Or perhaps you've already visited one of these cities and are looking to return to a favorite attraction or restaurant. You could (shortly) visit the destination without paying extra for a second, separate booking.
We should mention that when it comes to domestic awards, U.S. airlines typically will not allow layovers of longer than four hours unless a shorter layover is not possible.
Related: How to Find Airline Partner Award Flight Availability
Example of a Stopover
As we mentioned above, when the time between flights is more than 24 hours, it's generally considered a stopover. Unlike layovers, where you might be able to easily squeeze in two of them in a single ticket, airlines have much more defined restrictions on stopovers.
In some cases, such as with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, stopovers are not allowed in a single award. In other cases, such as with United Airlines and Singapore Airlines, you are allowed to add one stopover to an award itinerary at no additional cost (other than any government and airport taxes/fees). Further, some airlines allow two or more stopovers to be added to an award ticket.
For example, with award bookings via United or Singapore, you can book the following award itinerary as a single award ticket: Newark — Munich (stopover) — Rome (final destination) — Newark.
In this case, even though you would be spending more than 24 hours in both Munich and Rome, United and Singapore would price such tickets at the same price as Newark — Rome — Newark.
Related: How Far in Advance Can You Book Airline Award Tickets?
Airlines and Loyalty Programs That Offer Stopovers
Each airline has its own set of rules and requirements for stopovers. Let's take a look at the airlines that allow them and what is required for each.
Programs that allow one stopover
- Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines allows one free stopover on one-way international flights, plus two free stopovers on round-trip international flights. Flights must be between regions and are generally limited to cities that house Alaska's partner hubs. Check out our guide on the Alaska Airlines stopover program for more information.
- Air Canada: Air Canada Aeroplan allows one stopover for one-way flights and two stopovers for round-trip flights. These stopovers cost 5,000 points per stopover and exclude flights that are wholly within North America. Stopovers can be a maximum of 45 days. You can book Aeroplan stopover awards online, so check out our guide to the sweet spots of Aeroplan stopovers and open jaws to learn more.
- All Nippon Airways (ANA): ANA requires you to book round-trip tickets when booking award flights. As part of this, the program allows one free stopover for each round-trip ticket. The only exception is that the flight cannot originate in Japan, where ANA is based. Learn more in our guide about maximizing ANA Mileage Club sweet spots.
- Emirates: Emirates allows one stopover on round-trip flights booked via a Skywards saver fare. The program also allows one stopover on each one-way flight booked with a Flex Plus fare. Additionally, the stopover is only allowed in Dubai. Learn how to get a free hotel from Emirates on layovers of 8–26 hours.
- Etihad: Etihad considers any connection longer than eight hours a stopover. The stopover needs to be in Abu Dhabi and be booked over the phone. Additionally, through December 20, 2023, you can get a free hotel stay by booking a Transit Connect package through Etihad for stopovers that are 10–24 hours.
- Flying Blue (Air France and KLM): Flying Blue, the award program for Air France and KLM, recently added the ability to book one stopover on an award flight. Amazingly, any valid ticket route counts, and there are no limitations for destinations or airline carriers. The only drawback is that the stopover must be booked over the phone, and not all agents may be aware of this option. If you run into issues, you may need to hang up/call again and speak to a different agent. Learn more in our guide about the Flying Blue stopover program.
- Singapore Airlines: Singapore Airlines allows stopovers when traveling on flights it operates. Round-trip Saver awards receive one free stopover, and round-trip Advantage awards receive two free stopovers, one per way. The stopover can be a maximum of 30 days.
- Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines allows one free stopover per award flight operated by Turkish Airlines. Additionally, you are allowed a stopover on a partner airline if the award costs at least 60,000 miles in economy or at least 90,000 miles in business. You will need to call Turkish Airlines to book the stopover.
- United Airlines: United is unique in its stopover program, which it calls the Excursionist Perk. There are a few interesting rules to be aware of if you'd like to take advantage of this option. First, the full itinerary must start and end in the same MileagePlus-defined region. Second, the origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk must be within a single region but must be separate from where the itinerary starts and ends. This can be a bit tricky to figure out, but it also opens a lot of opportunities beyond the traditional stopover allowed by other airlines. Learn more in our guide about maximizing United miles.
Programs that allow more than one stopover
- Asiana Airlines: Asiana Airlines has a very generous stopover policy allowing up to seven free stopovers. Stopovers are available for both one-way and round-trip tickets. However, confusing award booking rules make maximizing these stopovers difficult.
- Cathay Pacific: Cathay Pacific allows up to five free stopovers on a round-trip award booking. You can theoretically book the stopover online; however, you may need to call, especially if the trip involves partner airlines. Check out our Cathay Pacific Asia Miles sweet spots post for more information.
- Japan Airlines (JAL): JAL does not permit stopovers for flights solely on JAL; however, you can book stopovers on partner airlines. For partner airline award tickets, there is a maximum of three stopovers for the entire itinerary. For Oneworld award tickets, there is a maximum of seven stopovers for the entire itinerary (though you can fly a maximum of eight segments).
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Bottom Line
Any connection less than 24 hours will be considered a layover for international awards. Anything longer than that will be considered a stopover.
Multiple layovers are usually allowed for free, but the ability to add a free stopover depends on the rules of the airline you're booking with. It's worth being familiar with these definitions and rules since they open up many possibilities for exploring new destinations for a fraction of the cost.
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