Stopover
A scheduled break in a layover, typically 24+ hours, where you actually leave the airport and spend time in the transit country.
A stopover is a layover that's deliberately longer than 24 hours, used to spend time in the transit country. Many airlines actively encourage stopovers because it brings tourism revenue to their hub city, they offer free hotels, transfers, and even guided tours.
The 2026 stopover programs that benefit Indians:
Qatar Stopover Programme, Qatar Airways offers a free hotel in Doha for any layover 12+ hours. Indian passport holders need a free 30-day Visa-on-Arrival (Discover Qatar portal hotel booking now mandatory for Indians). Tour vouchers (₹2,500 face value) included. Available on most Qatar routes from Indian metros to Europe/Africa/Americas.
Emirates Dubai Connect, free hotel + transfers for 10–24h layovers in Dubai (if your fare class qualifies). UAE Visa-on-Arrival is AED 100 + 5% VAT (~USD 28.50 / ₹2,715) for 14 days, ONLY if you hold a valid US/UK/EU/AU/CA visa; otherwise ₹6,500 e-Visa. The "free under-30 first-timer" line is a myth, no such UAE policy exists.
Turkish Airlines Stopover in Istanbul, free 1- or 2-night hotel for economy / business class on long-haul tickets. eVisa for Indians is ₹4,000, valid 30 days, so you can do a proper 2-day Istanbul stay before flying onward.
Singapore Airlines Stopover Holiday Pass, discounted hotel + attractions package; not free but heavily discounted (~₹4,000 for 2 nights with breakfast). Singapore eVisa for Indians is ₹2,000.
- Qatar: qatarairways.com/stopover
- Emirates: emirates.com/dubai-connect
- Turkish: turkishairlines.com/stopover
The trap: these programs are only available if you book direct on the airline's website. Aggregators (MakeMyTrip, Skyscanner) won't show or honor them.