Do airlines pay for overnight layovers?

If you're short on time, here's a quick answer: Yes, some airlines do provide hotel accommodations for long layovers or when unforeseen delays or cancellations happen. However, it's not a universal practice and policies vary significantly between airlines.



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If your layover exceeds a certain length (typically between 8 to 12 hours), Go Ahead will book and cover the cost of a hotel room for you to relax or sleep in for the full duration of your connection while you wait for your next flight. We refer to these as dayrooms and overnight layovers.

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A layover is a connection that lasts no longer than 4 hours for domestic flights and no longer than 24 hours for International flights. Layovers are fairly common, especially overnight layovers, but usually they aren't long enough to benefit you.

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The short answer is yes. It is possible to exit and reenter the airport. Whether or not you should depends on a range of factors, including if you're traveling internationally or domestically and how much time you have between flights.

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The main difference between a stopover and layover is length of time. Stopover rules vary by airline, but are essentially longer layovers — at least 24 hours in length. Layovers, meanwhile, are connections less than a day in length depending on if you're flying domestically or internationally.

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While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. A layover is the time you spend at the airport between two flights. A connecting flight is the next flight in your itinerary that you're waiting at the airport to take.

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In short, if you take the layover, you'll likely save some money. Why is this happening? It all goes back to supply and demand. Most travelers want to take the nonstop flight as it means getting there quicker and with less chance of disruption.

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The short answer is no, airlines do not often cover lodging costs during lengthy layovers. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. If the airline is responsible for the delay (for instance, if the plane is delayed due to mechanical issues), the airline may provide hotel accommodations for passengers.

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No. Airlines are not required to reimburse you for any trip costs affected by the cancelled flight, such as a prepaid hotel room, a cruise, a vacation, concert or other tickets, or lost wages.

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What to do during a long layover
  • Escape the airport on your own to explore the city.
  • Take an organized tour of the city.
  • Book yourself into a transfer hotel.
  • Try out the local cuisine.
  • Indulge in the comfort food you've been avoiding.
  • Take a shower.
  • Phone a friend.
  • Find a meditation room.


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Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.

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Some airlines provide hotels for layovers longer than 8 hours, while others only provide accommodation for layovers longer than 12 hours. Some airlines only provide accommodation for layovers caused by airline delay or mechanical issues, while others provide accommodation for any layover longer than a certain duration.

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It's not against the law. But it is a violation of the contract of carriage you entered into when you bought your ticket. Many people do this. It's called “Hidden City Ticketing” and it's a practice that should be used lightly because the airline will just ban you in the future if you do this too much.

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Is skiplagging illegal? No, but it's against most airlines' contracts of carriage or the rules people must follow to fly with the airline. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both put skiplagging first on their lists of prohibited booking practices.

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“Hidden city ticketing,” or booking a flight with the intention of getting off at the layover city rather than the final destination, is perfectly legal, but there are some factors to consider before making it a habit.

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Make your layover longer, and you've got time to sightsee and exercise between flights. The beauty of an overnight stay, as opposed to a long daytime connection, is that you don't have to figure out where to store your luggage while you explore the city.

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Yotel, Minute Suites and GoSleep are some of the companies you'll find around the world, but the comfort level varies from actual rooms to enclosed flatbed seats. Pricing is usually reasonable and ranges from hourly to overnight rates. Some even offer showers, TVs, Wi-Fi, hot drinks and, the best part, bona fide beds.

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10 Tips for When You're Stuck at An Airport Overnight
  1. Lower Your Expectations. ...
  2. Remember to Stretch. ...
  3. Pamper Yourself with Comfort Items. ...
  4. Carry Spare Clothes with You. ...
  5. Prepare to Keep Warm. ...
  6. Bring Your Earplugs. ...
  7. The Jack(et) of all Trades. ...
  8. Make Your Bed and Lie in It.


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