What is the difference between a stop and a layover?

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.



In aviation and travel terminology, the difference between a stop and a layover (and a "stopover") is defined by the duration of the time spent on the ground and whether you change aircraft. A layover is a short connection, typically lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours for international flights (or under 4 hours for domestic U.S. flights). During a layover, your primary goal is simply to change planes and continue to your final destination; your bags are usually checked through automatically. A stopover is a much longer break in the journey, usually lasting more than 24 hours, where you intentionally stay in a city for a day or more before moving on. Many airlines, like Icelandair or Emirates, offer free stopover programs to encourage tourism. A technical stop (or just a "stop") is when the aircraft lands to refuel or pick up passengers, but you often stay on the same plane and keep the same flight number. For example, a flight might be listed as "1 stop," which could mean you sit on the tarmac for 45 minutes without ever leaving your seat. Understanding these terms is crucial for booking, as "stopovers" often trigger different fare rules and may require you to collect and re-check your luggage.

People Also Ask

During layovers, your aircraft may land at the connecting city to drop off and pick up new passengers. Sometimes, layovers require you to stay in the aircraft until it departs. Other times, you must get off the plane and head to a new aircraft at the airport.

MORE DETAILS

For them, a layover means an overnight stay while a connection refers to a shorter stop, but for fliers and travel providers, it's ok to use these two terms interchangeably. However, while it's fine to use the term layover when you really mean connection, you should know the difference between a stopover and layover.

MORE DETAILS

? Layovers are probably the most common type of pause in an airline itinerary these days, and also may be called a connecting flight. Basically, a layover is the time an airline gives you to change planes between flights.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Simply put, a layover flight is a flight with a stop in the middle. Sometimes, this will mean staying on the aircraft while it lands to drop off and pick up passengers. Other times, it will mean you have to get off the plane and board a new one at the airport.

MORE DETAILS

“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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Do you have to go through security again for connecting flight? Yes, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights. It is recommended that travelers allow enough extra time before their connecting flight to pass through security and customs again.

MORE DETAILS

It makes sense, because the practice saps revenue from them on two fronts: Not only do passengers underpay — potentially by hundreds of dollars per ticket — but the seat on the tossed leg also could have been sold to someone else. Most contracts of carriage from major airlines expressly forbid skiplagging as a result.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

An airport transit visa is generally required if you travel internationally and if you need to transit through a country. Even if you do not intend to leave the airport, you may need an airport transit visa.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

She continued: “While a one-off occurrence could go unnoticed, any travelers that are repeat offenders run the risk of being flagged in the airline's system and potentially banned from flying with the airline in the future.”

MORE DETAILS

That's the practice of booking a less-expensive flight option without planning to fly the entire itinerary. Instead, you bail at a connecting airport rather than continuing to your final destination. Although some travelers have been booking these types of tickets for decades, Skiplagged took the idea mainstream.

MORE DETAILS

Basically, a layover is the time an airline gives you to change planes between flights. On a layover that's scheduled by the airline, you'll likely be traveling on the same ticket for every flight included in the itinerary, and you may have some time to kill at the airport.

MORE DETAILS

Most airports have a luggage storage facility or service. You can check bags into the storage center and leave them any length of time, from a few hours to several days. Time limits and fees vary from airport to airport and some have size restrictions.

MORE DETAILS

If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration.

MORE DETAILS

Airlines will transfer your checked bags if a codeshare or interline agreement exists between them. You can find out what agreements your airline has by visiting their website.

MORE DETAILS