What Stopover means
Every itinerary with more than one flight has intermediate points. The question that matters for pricing is whether the traveller is merely changing planes there (a connection, transfer or layover) or choosing to stay (a stopover).
Airline conditions of carriage define the idea in general terms. Singapore Airlines describes a stopover as a deliberate interruption of the journey by the passenger at a point between departure and destination, agreed in advance by the carrier. British Airways calls it a scheduled stop on the journey between departure and destination.
Fare rules supply the time limits. Travelport's guide to ATPCO Category 8 says that, unless the fare's own time fields override it, an interruption of more than 4 hours on domestic travel and more than 24 hours on international travel is a stopover. Category 8 then decides whether stopovers are allowed on the fare, how many, where, and at what charge. If no Category 8 data applies, stopovers are not permitted on that fare component.
This is why a two-night break in a hub can change the price. A cheap through fare may allow no stopovers at all, so the system has to price the journey differently or add a stopover charge. Points where the fare breaks (fare break points) are not counted as stopovers under Category 8.
Several airlines turn stopovers into a product. Icelandair lets transatlantic travellers stay up to seven days in Iceland without additional airfare, and Qatar Airways sells Doha stopover hotel packages to its passengers.
How Stopover works
Pricing systems check each intermediate point against the fare's stopover rules before quoting a price.
- Measure the gapThe system compares arrival and departure times at each intermediate point with the stopover thresholds: more than 24 hours international or 4 hours domestic by default.
- Classify the pointIf the gap is within the limit, the point is a connection. If it exceeds the limit, or the fare's own time fields say so, it is a stopover.
- Read Category 8The fare's stopover rule says whether stopovers are allowed, the maximum number, permitted cities or carriers, and any charge per stopover.
- Price or rejectIf the stopover is allowed, any charge is added to the fare calculation. If not, that fare fails and the system looks for another fare or combination.
- Ticket the journeyOn the ticket, the stopover point appears as an ordinary city in the itinerary, and any stopover charge appears in the fare calculation.
Stopover in practice
Illustrative. A passenger flies Dhaka to London via Doha. Arriving in Doha at 02:00 and leaving at 08:30 is a connection. Leaving three days later makes Doha a stopover on an international journey, so the fare must permit a stopover there.
Verified airline programmes (conditions change, check before selling):
| Airline | Programme as described on its website |
|---|---|
| Icelandair | Stopover in Iceland of up to 7 days on transatlantic journeys with no additional airfare; accommodation booked separately. |
| Qatar Airways | Doha stopover packages of 1 to 4 nights, from USD 14 per person per night, for passengers with at least a 12-hour transit, booked with the flights. |
Who uses it
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Lets travellers visit an extra city on one ticket, often for little or no extra airfare.
- Gives hub airlines a way to sell their home city and attract connecting traffic.
- Clear time thresholds let pricing systems classify itineraries automatically.
Limitations
- Many low fares allow no stopovers, so a long break can push the price up sharply.
- Thresholds can be overridden by individual fares, so the 24-hour and 4-hour conventions are defaults rather than guarantees.
- Visa, baggage and hotel arrangements at the stopover point remain the traveller's responsibility.
- Missing a flight after a stopover can trigger no-show rules for the rest of the ticket.
Frequently asked questions about Stopover
What is the difference between a stopover and a layover?
A layover or connection is a short wait to change planes. A stopover is a deliberate stay. In fare rules the default line is more than 24 hours on international journeys and more than 4 hours on domestic ones, though individual fares can set different limits.
Do stopovers cost extra on an airline ticket?
It depends on the fare. Under ATPCO Category 8, a fare with no stopover data allows no stopovers, while others allow a set number free or with a charge per stopover. Some airlines, such as Icelandair on transatlantic routes, promote stopovers with no additional airfare.
Is a 23-hour connection a stopover on an international ticket?
Under the default ATPCO convention, no: only an interruption of more than 24 hours counts as an international stopover. However, the fare's own stopover rule can set a shorter limit, so the agent should check the specific fare's Category 8 conditions before promising that a long connection prices as a transfer.
How do I add a stopover when booking a flight?
Use a multi-city search rather than a return search and set the dates for each leg. The system will then price the itinerary against fares that allow a stopover at that point. Airlines with stopover programmes may also offer a dedicated stopover option in their booking flow.
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