Stopover — Stopover

Definition

A stopover is a planned stay at an intermediate city on a multi-leg journey, where the passenger deliberately spends significant time, often a day or more, before continuing to their final destination on a later flight of the same ticket. It differs from a simple change of aircraft made only to complete a connection, where the passenger stays at the intermediate airport just long enough to board the next flight.

How Airlines Define It

Airlines and fare rules generally set a specific time threshold that separates a stopover from an ordinary connection. A common convention on international itineraries is that a break of more than 24 hours at an intermediate point counts as a stopover, while a shorter break is treated as a connection, though the exact threshold, and whether stopovers are permitted at all, depends on the fare rules of the specific ticket and airline. Some domestic itineraries use shorter thresholds. A stopover is typically arranged as an explicit part of the ticket at the time of booking, rather than something a passenger can add unilaterally after the fact.

Why Travelers Choose a Stopover

Stopovers let a traveler effectively combine two trips into one journey, using time at a connecting hub to see a city or region they would not otherwise visit, rather than simply passing through the airport. A number of airlines have built dedicated stopover programs around their hub cities, offering extended free or discounted stays, hotel packages, or city tours to encourage passengers to add a stopover rather than book a separate ticket.

Fare and Ticketing Implications

Because a stopover changes how a fare is constructed, it can affect the ticket price: some fare types allow a limited number of free stopovers, others charge an additional fee per stopover, and some restrictive fares do not permit a stopover at all. Whether a stopover is allowed, how many are permitted, and any associated charge are governed by the fare rules attached to the specific ticket rather than being a fixed industry-wide policy.

Related Concept

The minimum amount of time needed at an airport simply to make a connecting flight, without an extended stay, is governed by a separate concept, the Minimum Connection Time, which is distinct from a deliberate stopover.