stopover

Stopover is a break in a journey during which a traveler stays in a city or region for more than a transient layover before continuing to the final destination. In airline marketing, a stopover often implies a stay of 24 hours or longer in an intermediate city, allowing the traveler to visit the location without resuming travel immediately. A layover typically refers to a shorter stay between flight segments, usually a few hours.

Stopovers are distinct from connections, where luggage is transferred and the traveler continues on the same journey without an extended stay. The exact minimum duration and conditions for a stopover vary by airline, fare rules, and country immigration requirements. Some agreements allow free or reduced-cost stopovers in hub cities as part of a multi-city itinerary; others treat long stops as separate trips.

Travelers use stopovers to rest, adjust to a time zone, or explore a city without purchasing a separate onward ticket. Planning considerations include visa requirements, transit visas if needed, airport accessibility to the city center, and whether baggage can be checked through. Some airports offer unofficial or official city tours or partner tourism promotions to stopover visitors.

Stopovers can benefit host cities by increasing tourism spending and exposure. Airlines may promote stopovers to fill seats in otherwise underutilized routes and to diversify profit sources. Critics note that stopover experiences depend on airport location, access to reliable transportation, and the traveler’s time and budget.

See also: layover, connecting flight, multi-city trip, visa, transit visa, tourism marketing.