I’m still not over it. How could I have flown around the world so many times, frequently enduring a long layover, and never even heard of this perk? Some airlines, it turns out, will provide you with a free hotel accommodation (sometimes including transportation and breakfast) when you have a flight with a long layover in the airline’s major hub city. Basically the airline is serving up a free mini vacation in between your flights! Naturally, it’s not something airlines are necessarily publicizing (and what constitutes “long,” however, varies per airline), but many will accommodate you when asked.
I discovered this fantastic travel secret when, to save myself over $100, I had booked a flight with a 13-hour layover in Tokyo. The plan had been to leave Narita International Airport and go into the city for dinner and dancing via the train, then find a cheap hotel to shower and rest at before heading back to the airport. You can imagine my amazement when ANA Airlines handed me a complimentary hotel stay, complete with a free shuttle to and from the airport, when I checked in for my flight!
I took advantage of this free hotel stopover again on a trip to Bali, which I booked through Eva Air with a 24-hour layover through Taipei on the return flight. As before, no hotel was offered during the booking process, but when I called and requested one, Eva Air promptly reserved a room for me. Eva Air also provided complimentary breakfast and a free private taxi to and from the airport. With such service, I vowed to always take flights with long layovers.
Long Layover Hacks
Below are airlines that arrange free accommodation with a long layover. Make sure you call ahead to request the hotel reservation because restrictions do apply. If you’ve experienced the same with these or other airlines providing a free hotel on a long layover, please share!
Air Canada at Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver
China Eastern Airlines at Shanghai
China Southern Airlines at Guangzhou
Emirates at Dubai
Ethiopian Airlines at Addis Abeba
Malaysia Airline at Kuala Lumpur (Put in an accommodation request through their Facebook page)
Sri Lankan Airlines at Colombo (Book your hotel in advance by sending an email to reservations@srilankan.com)
PIN ME!!
Zeina Atamis
11.03.2017 at 07:07Turkish airlines needs to do one in Istanbul ??
the Fashion Matters
11.03.2017 at 15:01I didn’t know that how cool!
THE FASHION MATTERS- Travel & Fashion blog
-here from #GLT
Anna
13.03.2017 at 15:25I had no idea! I’ll definitely check this out! Love from GLT <3
Gabriella Sheffield
16.03.2017 at 04:29Amazing! Can’t wait to take advantage of this!
Erika
25.03.2017 at 03:55What?! I had no idea about this! Great tip. Thanks!
Thivy Michelle
25.03.2017 at 04:04Wow that’s pretty awesome. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for future references! Love from GLT <3
Sincerely,
Thivy Michelle
http://www.thivymichelle.com
Therese
25.03.2017 at 04:07This is a great tip!! If ever I do have a long layover gonna try and ask for hotel. Thanks!
Xo, Therese
http://www.mayreese.com
Maria Jesus
25.03.2017 at 04:13OMG! I didn’t know about it. I’ll do it next time I have to fly somewhere.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers from Argentina 🙂
Jamie Gajewski
25.03.2017 at 05:14OMG! Mind blown. Amazing. GLT Love!
Rachel Elyse
25.03.2017 at 06:32Great post! I love long layovers because it gives me a chance to see a little bit of a country I might not plan an actual trip to, and I just flew China Eastern to Shanghai and we paid for a hotel!! Granted we got a great room for only $40 but had we known we could get a free one….. next time for sure!!
annette richmond
25.03.2017 at 17:44This post is BOOKMARKED!! I’ll be traveling through Asia for a year so I will for sure be looking into how to take advantage of a mini vacation. Thanks for sharing!
Aarti Kamath
21.06.2017 at 17:35This is definitely good information. I knew of a few of these airlines giving free hotel stays (didnt know of many!). The thing is, above 9 hours of layover, they ought to give us free accommodation.
Esther Lee
21.06.2017 at 18:24I found out about this *after* I chose not to book a flight with Air Canada because they had a long layover in Toronto BOTH ways. Had I known before, I could have saved myself some money on the flight!
Mina
21.06.2017 at 19:05Awesome! In October I’ll fly with Royal Air Marroc and I have a long layover in Casablanca, so I will definitely contact them to try this. Thanks 🙂
Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad
21.06.2017 at 22:22This is awesome!! I took a long layover flight through Vietnam (with Vietnam Airlines) and although I made a good day of it, I never knew you could do this! I’ll definitely look into it next time and see if it’s offered.
Perri
22.06.2017 at 06:47OMG! A million times thank you for these tips.. I will always make sure to double check from now on out… AMAZING!
Perri
http://www.princeandthepear.com
Alina
22.06.2017 at 10:24I can add to the list – Turkish Airlines provides hotels for long layovers and free food for, I think, 4 hours, in Istanbul. There are even articles on how to score better hotels in Istanbul via this program 🙂 I’ve stayed twice like this, once in the city center, once near the airport.
Bidisha
22.06.2017 at 13:51Wow! This indeed a great find. I had no idea.
Chiera
22.06.2017 at 14:56What a neat trick! If only I had known this years ago!
Alexxa
23.06.2017 at 09:34Bookmarked! This is so incredibly useful! I haven’t been to any of these stops (other than Canada cause that’s home) but would love to! Free hotel in Sri Lanka? Yes please!
Chloe
23.06.2017 at 12:56I didn’t know about this! I booked a flight to Melbourne with China Southern Airlines through Guangzhou but didn’t plan a layover because I didn’t want to pay for a hotel!!!! Now I see this I’m kicking myself for not doing it!!
Kristin @ Camels & Chocolate
23.06.2017 at 13:20Wow, really?!? I’m going to have to check into this on my next long haul to Europe/Middle East/Asia. Definitely a cool perk!
Lindsay Lobb
30.06.2017 at 08:50Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to find any individual with some unique ideas on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this website is something that’s wanted on the internet, someone with just a little originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!
Brianna
21.04.2018 at 03:26Super good to know! Totally not surprised that there are no US-based airlines on that list! They’re all so stingy!
Shelley
21.04.2018 at 04:03I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! (FACE PALM) – I usually purposely book long layovers, so that I can experience more places on my trips, but to get hotel and transfer for free – um, amazing! Thanks for the tip!!
Neha Kulshrestha
21.04.2018 at 04:13Yes this is a fantastic way to double up your vacation. We took advantage of this on Emirates flight with a 16 hour layover in Dubai. We did explore a bit of Dubai and enjoyed it. Looking forward to more. But didn’t know about this list of airlines. Thanks for sharing.
leanne
21.04.2018 at 04:25This is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing. Definitely bookmarking this list!!
Soujanya
21.04.2018 at 05:12I remember spending a night in a 5-star hotel, paid for by an airline when my flight was delayed. There are so many wonderful services that we don’t know of. Thanks for bringing it out !
atravellersfootsteps
21.04.2018 at 05:24I wish I knew this earlier
Anisa
21.04.2018 at 06:58That is amazing! I had no idea about this. Now to plan a trip to take advantage of it!
Nailah
21.04.2018 at 07:41I am about to check this out for the first time. I booked a flight on Qatar Airlines and just after I made the reservation I heard about the free layover program from another traveler. Spending the night there next week with a free hotel stay. Wish I had more time in Doha, but excited I’ll at least have a few hours to wander around and then have a nice bed to sleep in.
Lena
21.04.2018 at 09:12This is actually incredibly helpful! By the way, I think Turkish airlines also offer that for a layover in Istanbul.
Thanks for sharing!
Viola
21.04.2018 at 09:15Is this for real?! Omg I never knew! I can’t wait to try. Thanks so much!
Christina Holthuis
21.04.2018 at 12:03That’s so cool, totally bookmarked! Will be extremely helpful, thank you so much! And amazing photos <3
Louise
21.04.2018 at 19:26Omggggg why did I not know/try this sooner?! lol I’ve had a number of overnight layovers in Toronto, Vancouver, Seoul, etc….and sometimes stayed up the entire night or paid for a hotel out of pocket! Geez. haha
Thanks for sharing this very valuable information!!
Sandy
22.04.2018 at 10:58OMG I thought it was only when an airline overbooked that they’d offer someone to volunteer for a complimentary stay and new flight the following day but I had no idea about this! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Emma Shaw
22.04.2018 at 22:14Such a helpful article, thanks so much for sharing! A free hotel can make such a difference for those looooong layovers! 🙂
Tal Bright
23.04.2018 at 13:59That’s really useful! Thank you for sharing. Will save the list for me next long flight
Sandy P.
28.05.2018 at 07:41Turkish Air will give you a hotel room or a city tour but I think it needs to be a 12 hour layover in Istanbul.
Egypt Air gives city tours or hotel rooms for layovers longer than 6 or 8 hours (I can’t remember but probably 8hours) in Cairo.
admin
28.05.2018 at 17:20Awesome! Thanks, I will be updating the list!
Nat Cole
31.05.2018 at 21:06Great thanks for sharing this information>
Maria Kinetz
06.06.2018 at 01:03Thank you soooo much! Got a pretty long layover in Taipei. This post is big help! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Jen
05.07.2018 at 01:50Thanks for this list!! Do they usually book a hotel near the airport? Wondering if it’s worth it to book a hotel on my own if their hotel will be far from the city center (my layover is in taipei)
admin
05.07.2018 at 16:50Hey! So the hotel we were provided in Taipei was actually only a 10 min taxi from the city center, and about an hour from the airport. There was public transport available, but because of our short time in the city, we decided to not try and learn it that day and detract from our exploring time. Once we were in the city center, We were easily able to walk to each place we wanted to go to. I am not sure if it will be the same hotel we were given. I recommend talking to a customer service rep at the airline. Also keep in mind, when you take the hotel they offer there is free transportation to and from the airport, plus free breakfast! (At least in my personal experience) Again I would check with an airline rep. Enjoy and safe travels!
Jen
06.07.2018 at 01:14Thank you so much!!
Jenny McPherson
18.07.2018 at 06:19Hi, Vietnam airlines also offers free tours and hotel room for layovers for return Sydney flights due to long layovers.
Last year we had it in both directions and they also provided free visa all you need to do is bring along 2 passport photos for each layover. I think their rule is layover longer than 7 hours. Check their website.
This year we have chosen a flight to Europe that goes via Hanoi so will get this layover agin on the return to Sydney as it is a 18 hour layover. .
Make sure you ask travel against or if you book online then calll airline. Easy as….. jenny
Steve C
31.12.2018 at 02:54When did you get the free transit hotel in Taipei? I’ve read they used to have one but sold it (2015?). I phoned EVA Air in Brisbane (Australia)today and asked about it because I have a forced 23 hr layover coming up. They said they have not had a transit hotel in Taipei for two years and do not have any complimentary transit offers.