Online tricks to booking yourself an excellent flight stopover

Make the most of your holiday by squeezing in a cheeky extended stopover. Here’s how to DIY (without involving a travel agent), writes Simone Mitchell for escape.com.au

Last month I flew to return to Europe in economy without an extended stopover, and loudly declared NEVER AGAIN as I landed back on home soil.

I have grown to love a stopover, to break up a long flight and spend a gleeful couple of nights exploring a new city.

If you’re an Aussie heading to Europe it’s usually somewhere in Asia, filling up on bowls of chilli-laden noodles and tackling your jetlag with a cheap and cheerful massage. Not to mention having a shower and sleeping in a bed, instead of curled up like a hateful pretzel in economy.

When you book flights online, many offer a layover (a layover is the waiting time between connecting flights, generally ranging 30 minutes to 24 hours) … but what if you want a multi-day stopover?

It’s widely believed that if you want to book a stopover you need to book your flights through a travel agent, or book it directly via the airline.

But the good news is, you can do it yourself. You just need to know how. There are a few bookings sites that allow this option, and here’s how to do it on each one:

How to book a stopover via online flight booking sites like Skyscanner, Mix&Match and Webjet

First, do a search on flights between your departure airport and the destination you’re wanting to get to. This will show you the cheapest flights, along with the stopover cities on the way. Pick the airline / stopover you wish to go with.

You then need to do a multi-city flight search, taking this stopover city into account.

So, for example, say we have discovered that one of the cheapest ways to get to London from Sydney at the time we want to travel is with Cathay Pacific, having a stopover in Hong Kong.

When we do a straight search for the Sydney to London flight, it gives us a (rather brutal) 8 hour layover and the cost is $1142.

When we do the multi city search, flying to Hong Kong, then having a two night stopover before continuing on to London, it’s $1,168. Winner.

If an interesting stopover is the goal, consider some of these more niche routes to Europe

You might have already done a stopover in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Dubai, as these are the home bases of popular airlines on the Australia > Europe route.

But the less travelled airlines below could open up a few new options and are worth a look.

Stopover in Seoul with Asiana airlines

South Korea is having a moment, with many saying it’s the new Japan.

Korean airline Asiana – which by all represents a great value flying experience – flies on to London, Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul, Paris and Frankfurt, stopping over in Seoul.

Stopover in Jakarta with Garuda

If you want a little Indonesia stopover, Garuda often has some seriously cheap airfares. You just have to fly into Amsterdam in Europe, as it’s currently their only Euro destination on their route map.

Stopover in Shanghai with Juneyao

Shanghai-based Juneyao Air will begin flying to and from Sydney from December 17, and Melbourne two days later on December 19.

The Chinese carrier will operate four weekly flights from Australia, and as it’s new in the Australian market, it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for any special launch sales they do.

They fly into Athens, Manchester and Brussels.

Stopover in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines

Like South Korea, data shows that Vietnam is of increasing interest to Aussie travellers.

Have a little burst of warmth and a few top notch Banh Mis in Vietnam before heading onto Europe with Vietnam Airlines (who win points for their Sky Sofa option on long-haul flights).

At the time of writing they have Sydney to Paris flights for $1,692 return. They also fly into London and Frankfurt.

Stopover in Delhi with Air India

We can’t necessarily vouch for the flying experience (the airline can apparently be a bit hit and miss when it comes to service), but if you’ve always wanted to spend a few days getting a taste for India, it’s worth checking out Air India.

Some airlines also offer enticing stopover deals if you book direct

There are some airlines that encourage people to book a multi-day layover (stopover) in certain cities – typically where the airline is based. There’s no extra cost on the airfare for these extended layovers, and in some cases perks are included (such as a free hotel stay) and others will offer some discounts on tours and other travel costs. Some airports and airlines also offer free city tours for long layovers.

Etihad Airways

With a round-trip flight purchase, Etihad has a stopover offer that can be added on during the ticket booking process, making it easy for guests to turn one holiday into two and stay for free for up to two nights. They even have a free shuttle service to easily connect visitors with must-see sights, including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Abu Dhabi city centre. You can check out these free stopover terms here.

Icelandair

This stopover program allows you to spend up to seven days in Reykjavík as part of a layover on a transatlantic flight.

TAP Air Portugal

Spend from 1 to 10 days on a stopover in Lisbon or Porto on your outbound or returning flight with the airline. TAP Air Portugal will also give you a 25 per cent discount on domestic flights during your stopover.

Japan Airlines

Through the Japan Airlines multi-city booking tool, travellers can book a stopover in Tokyo or Osaka for up to six days with no extra cost to the airfare. Plus, there’s the option to buy the JAL Japan Explorer Pass and get discounts on travel to other destinations throughout the country during your stopover.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines will give you free tour of Istanbul with Tour Istanbul if your layover is long enough. And if you have a flight layover in Istanbul for 20 hours or more, it’s possible to get a free hotel stay at one of the airline’s partner hotels.

Qatar

If you’re flying in or out of Doha with Qatar airlines, you can apply for their stopover program which includes discounts on hotels for 1-4 night stays and tours of the city. Hotel stays start at $14 a night at a 4-star hotel!

KLM/Air France

Get a free stopover in Amsterdam or Paris when flying with KLM, Air France, or a partner airline if you book through Flying Blue, their rewards loyalty program. Stopovers are for 24 hours or more.

Emirates

Get a free stopover in Dubai for up to 48 hours when flying with Emirates.

Where are the best value stopovers between Australia and Europe?

Skyscanner Australia travel expert Jarrod Kris says these are the best routes with interesting stopovers for Australians wanting to get to Europe on the cheap.

Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Airways, Qantas, and Emirates allow you to visit Bangkok on flights to Europe, making it one of the best stopovers for Sydney to London flights.
Return stopover flights from Sydney to London, via Bangkok, from:$1,272
Accommodation from: $70
Price of a beer: $2.75

Hong Kong

Stopover flights from Australia to Europe can also take in Hong Kong. Airlines like British Airways, Qantas and Cathay Pacific offer multi stop flights if you want to fly to Europe with a stopover.
Return stopover flights from Sydney to London, via Hong Kong, from:$1,245
Accommodation (4 star) from: $158
Price of a beer: $7.30

Singapore

If you are considering stopovers to Europe with Singapore Airlines, or stopovers to London with Qantas, then Singapore is a good option.
Return stopover flights from Sydney to London, via Singapore, from:$1,192
Accommodation (4 star) from: $191
Price of a beer: $8.50

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

You can book stopover flights from Sydney to London with Malaysia Airlines.

Return stopover flights from Sydney to London, via Kuala Lumpur, from:$1,453
Accommodation (4 star) from: $65
Price of a beer: $4.50

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Many Aussies fly through Dubai as it’s one of the more direct routes to Europe, geographically (and Emirates – a Qantas partner – offers frequent flights to and from Australia).

Return stopover flights from Sydney to London, via Dubai, from:$1,282
Accommodation (4 star) from: $130
Price of a beer: $11.60

Some extra tips when it comes to stopovers

Don’t forget to make sure you look into visas

This can be a trap. Some countries require you to have a visa, even if you are there for less than 24 hours. Some countries provide 24-hour visa. Some need you to stay at the airport. Always check to see what the visa situation is before booking your flight.

Check the passport requirements too

Some countries require you to have six months validity on your passport if you want to leave the airport and explore (whereas this is not required if you’re just staying at the airport for a layover).

Consider the day/s you are having your stopover

As someone who once booked a stopover in a city on a Sunday when absolutely everything is closed, be sure to research your destination, and the day you will actually be exploring it.

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