How do airline stopovers work?

If a journey is broken at a certain point in order to drop passengers off or for operational reasons and then continues on to the destination using the same aircraft, this is referred to as a stopover. You can view any layovers or stopovers in the itinerary details shown when you purchase your ticket.



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Do you stay on the plane for a layover? In most cases, you'll have to switch to another plane, but sometimes (rarely) if the plane you are on is continuing to your next destination, you'll stay in your seat.

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Stopovers can range from as short as 24 hours to as long as 10 days, with no added cost to your airline ticket, depending on the program. To get the most out of a stopover, look for a program that offers other complimentary perks, too.

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The rules of stopover and layover duration vary across airlines. Generally, for international trips, a layover is anything from 30 minutes to 24 hours, while a stopover is longer than 24 hours. In domestic travel, a stopover would be anything longer than 4 hours.

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Factors to consider before leaving the airport during a layover. If you have an excessive layover time you may be wondering: Can I leave the airport between connecting flights? The short answer is yes. It is possible to exit and reenter the airport.

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Layover flights are usually cheaper than both direct and non-stop flights. Though you might spend a lot of time landing, disembarking and with layovers, you get to rest and stretch in between your journey. A long layover is called a stopover.

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The practice goes by a few different names, including skiplagging or hidden-city flying. Passengers disembark at their layover city, leaving an empty seat on their next flight, and save money in the process. But airlines are cracking down on the practice, claiming it breaches their rules and costs them revenue.

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Airline stopovers offer the chance to see an additional city, and come with free hotel stays, sightseeing discounts, and other perks. There's no doubt that international airfares have gotten more expensive.

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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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When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

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Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

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Essentially, a free stopover is an extended layover that allows you to leave the airport and explore the city, usually where an airline heads its operations. Stopovers can range from as short as 24 hours to as long as 10 days, with no added cost to your airline ticket, depending on the program.

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What are the disadvantages of a long layover?
  • 3.1 Fatigue and Boredom. A long layover can be tiring and boring, especially if you don't have access to comfortable seating, food, or entertainment.
  • 3.2 Hassle and Stress. ...
  • 3.3 Extra Costs. ...
  • 3.4 Visa Requirements.


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In most cases, you'll receive your boarding pass for your connecting flight already when you check in for your first flight. This means you don't have to check in again for your next flight. If you haven't received it, you can go to the transfer desk or kiosk of the airline you're flying with to collect it.

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If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.

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