The only difference between a dayroom and an overnight layover is the timing of the flight connection. Dayrooms take place when the entire layover is on the same day, whereas an overnight layover happens overnight, meaning it will be the next day when you catch your next flight.

An overnight layover occurs when a traveler’s connecting flights are separated by a period that spans across midnight, typically requiring the passenger to spend the night in the connection city. In the travel industry of 2026, this is generally defined as any connection lasting between 8 and 24 hours where the arrival is in the evening and the departure is the following morning. Overnight layovers often present a logistical challenge: if the layover is "unintentional" (caused by airline scheduling), some carriers may provide a hotel voucher, but most "intentional" or low-cost bookings require the traveler to fund their own accommodation. Travelers must also verify if their checked luggage will be "checked through" to the final destination or if they must retrieve it and re-check it the next day. Furthermore, if the layover is in a foreign country, the passenger must clear immigration and customs, which requires a valid visa or transit permit. For savvy travelers, an overnight layover is often used as a "bonus" mini-vacation to explore a new city for 12 to 15 hours before continuing their journey.