Which Airlines Offer Free & Discounted Hotels During Layovers?
Our team is working on a daily basis to bring you the best flight deals, helping you save money while seeing the world more & more. Now, we are bringing you a list of airlines that allow you to save even more money. It’s very simple. Long-distance flights lead to layovers, at least most of the time. Many airlines leave you “stranded” at the connecting airport. Sometimes you have a huge time gap between flights, so you have to pay for an airport hotel or hail a taxi to the city centre. The following list of airlines contains companies that will give you discounted hotel stays or even a free bed altogether! Let’s take a closer look…
Air Canada
Air Canada is using a transit scheme in order to boost tourism, so the airline doesn’t have any schedule restrictions. There’s only one rule. You need to have a connection time of at least 6 hours between two Air Canada flights in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Economy Class passengers receive discounted rates. If you have Latitude, Premium Economy, or Business Class tickets, then you’ll receive one free night at a nice hotel.
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Air China
Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Dalian, and Hangzhou are the cities that qualify for Air China’s transit passenger program. Definitely check their special conditions because not all connections and ticket types are eligible for receiving a complimentary hotel stay with free shuttle service from/to the airport.
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Emirates
Are you an Economy Class passenger with a layover of 8-24 hours? Or Business/First Class flyer having a layover between 6-24 hours? Emirates will provide accommodation, entry visas, and other perks. There are other conditions that apply, so it’s very important to consult their home page before actually planning anything according to this special service. Plus, you need to pre-book your hotel through the website.
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Etihad Airways
If you are lucky enough to fly Business or First on Etihad, you are entitled to get one or two free night(s) in Abu Dhabi when holding a Business or First boarding pass, respectively. And for serious high-flyers holding access to The Residence, Etihad offers two complimentary nights at the Emirates Palace. But not so fast, Economy passengers! You can still get cheaper hotel deals as Etihad gives you the second night for free if you book a stay of 2 nights.
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Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways goes further than some other airlines. The company will arrange your entry cisas, airport transfers, and meals in addition to the free hotel room. Still, there are a few conditions that you have to meet before enjoying the perks: no connections less than eight hours are available, transit time in Doha is between 8 and 24 hours, and you are not flying to or from Muscat or Kuwait. And there might be other restrictions too, but these depend on your booking class, availability, etc. It’s best to contact Qatar Airways and get all the necessary information beforehand.
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Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is offering free accommodation complete with airport transfers if you have 10 hours or more between two international connecting flights AND the layover is due to their schedule, not your own choice. Note that if one of your legs is a domestic flights, then this offer doesn’t apply. This service is open to both Economy and Business Class passengers. Don’t forget to check out their free city tour offers for shorter layovers as well.
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