The best airline stopover programs for 2026

As airlines compete more fiercely for long-haul passengers, stopover programs have emerged as a great way to promote local tourism at their home airports. For travelers who jump on these tempting offers, a once dull overnight layover, at your expense, can quickly become a fun and spontaneous mini city adventure. Sometimes airlines throw in a free hotel stay or offer heavily discounted accommodations, and they often let you take a break to explore local sights during your trip without paying extra for airfare.

Not all stopovers are created equal though. Some stopover packages are generous but tightly restricted; others are flexible but offer few perks. Here’s a comprehensive look at the airline stopover programs available in 2026, what they actually include, and how they differ.
Airlines offering free or subsidised stopover hotels

These are the luxury stopover packages with accommodation included or heavily subsidised, usually for longer connections.

Turkish Airlines — Istanbul
Turkish Airlines runs one of the most established stopover programs in the world. Eligible passengers transiting Istanbul can receive complimentary hotel accommodation, with the number of nights depending on cabin class and market. 

This stopover hotel offer is separate from the airline’s shorter Tour Istanbul product, which offers free city tours for passengers with shorter connections. Stopovers must be applied for after ticket purchase and are subject to fare rules and minimum connection times. 

Emirates — Dubai
Emirates operates two distinct stopover products. Dubai Connect provides complimentary hotel, meals, and transfers for passengers facing long layovers when no shorter connection is available, with eligibility thresholds varying by cabin.

Separately, Emirates also sells Dubai Stopover packages, which bundle multi-night hotel stays, visas, and transfers—often at competitive prices.

Etihad Airways — Abu Dhabi
Etihad’s Abu Dhabi stopover programme includes complimentary hotel stays on eligible itineraries, alongside optional paid extensions and destination perks.

Availability varies by route and fare, and travellers must book the hotel through Etihad’s stopover portal or Manage Booking.

 
Qatar Airways — Doha
Qatar Airways does not typically offer free hotel stays, but its Doha stopover programme is among the most cost-effective subsidised options available.

Through Discover Qatar, passengers can book four- and five-star hotels at heavily discounted nightly rates, typically for stays of 12 to 96 hours. The programme is designed to encourage short city stays rather than overnight recovery stops.

Ethiopian Airlines — Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Airlines offers stopover and transit accommodation options in Addis Ababa, including packages linked to its hub operations.

Availability and inclusions vary by itinerary, and the airline directs passengers to book stopover services through its dedicated Addis Ababa stopover page rather than automatically including hotels.