In this case, I used the extension code +CABIN 1, which indicated I only wanted to fly first class. For these searches, you'll need to enter a specific flight number or flight range in the routing code box. It might be that you love Indian food and you want to sample the real thing, or you've heard about this great Michelin Star restaurant in Oslo that's been on your wish list forever. Include only flights operated by specific, Specify the number of connections you are willing to make (e.g., nonstop flights only, or one connection only). If you only have a few hours, you only want to do the crme de la crme of touristing. ITA Matrix also helps make it easy to search a range of destinations. While these short layovers might be a small inconvenience, longer layovers (9+ hours) can actually be an opportunity. If you can, simply book two one way tickets: one to your long layover destination and one to your end destination. Exposes inefficiencies in airline pricing, such as hidden-city, to find you deals you can't get anywhere else. If you find out you love Hong Kong you can always go back for a longer time. When booking flights to a city youd like to explore, it never hurts to check what an airlines stopover policy is. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 2 Method 1 - Flight Tracker Sites Method. Cities on your bucket list are stopover gold. Usually, all this means is a few wasted hours in duty-free waiting for a plane to show up. This platform requires a bit more work to score cheap flights (more on that below), but if you know how to make ITA Matrix work for you, it can pay off. How to book: Book flight that connects through Abu Dhabi or Dubai on Virgin website or with travel agent So the next time you have to make a layover, see if you can turn it into an additional adventure. Stopovers, on the other hand, need to be booked voluntarily . The Points Guy, Forbes Advisor, AwardWallet, LendingTree. You can see mileage and price per mile when you hover over your preferred fare in the search results. However, buying these 2 independent tickets requires a lot more research than your average connecting flight. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Searching specific fare class availability, NerdWallet recently shared the news that you can, redeem Emirates Skywards miles for JetBlue Mint. Even better, Google Flights will let you factor in the price of carry-on and checked bags. This is the difference between a fun-loving, sightseeing day out and sleeping in the airport hating life: Sydney stopover vs Darwin stopover. If you don't want to buy a whole guidebook for your stopover destination, print out some pages with key information to help you make the most of your time. Recommendations save you time and money. If you missed any airports the first go-around, you can go back and add them to the search filters. Who says traveling the world needs to be expensive? You can use the Matrix to search for a preferred fare class. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Its not as simple as plugging in your airport codes and dates and hitting enter. That means you'll need to enter the routing code, [operated by JetBlue] and the extension code. How to find out if your flight might be delayed. Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now, Learn more: The best credit cards for online travel booking sites. You cant search for hotels using the ITA Matrix. It's your choice, but I prefer visa-free stopovers. Stopover. I would then input C: AA, which would exclude all other carriers. Even if you dont visit during Mardi Gras (but you should if you can), New Orleans is one of the USAs top places for partying. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Do not sell or share my personal information. Shows you the cheapest regular flights. The last leg of your trip is the mecca of country music, Nashville. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for an insight to the lives and work of legendary artists like Johnny Cash. Take this time to go back to your favourite cafe or restaurant abroad. Momondo. There is also a way to email the itinerary if you need to send it to a travel agent. In short,a stopover is a long layover. Plus, because Google Flights provides the links to purchase tickets, you only need to perform a single search for all 3 of your tickets. For most travelers, a flight search tool such as Google Flights will be the best option for searching and booking flights. In a case like that, it could be worth checking how much you'd need to pay for a higher fare class. Related: Best flight booking apps (Image courtesy of SkyScanner) Bottom line. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. For example, I'm probably never going to organise a 2-week holiday to Texas, USA. They're too expensive or not enough of a draw to commit all of your precious holiday time to. But if time and money were no obstacle you'd love to go there and do some sightseeing. Bangkok, for instance, withThai Lion Air, would be a great place to do this. All you have to do is paste your itinerary into the box and youll see results. It can be a little stressful trying to fit everything during a short stopover. (Optional) O- O-Y - Online travel only requested. : Lets say that youre planning a trip from Chicago to Bangkok. When you want to narrow down a search based on multiple options, the symbol you use to connect those options varies from one use case to another. Let us break it down for you: A layover is when the gap betweenconnecting flightsis less than 24 hours. Browse vinyl at record store Third Man Records, which is owned by White Stripes singer Jack White, and set aside a day for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a World Heritage Site, before you head home. You agree to the plane stopping en route and the passengers' changing flights and services when you book a layover trip. They're called " skiplagged rate " and will save you up to 50%. For travelers flying with Etihad, those with a connecting flight through Abu Dhabi can now leave the airport to adventure through this thrilling beachside city. For example, If you do your stopover somewhere inSouth East Asia, you could simply have a couple of nights at aswanky hotelthat's usually out of your price range. Google Flights is great for its ease and speed, but when you have specific flight preferences, you can use ITA Matrix's advanced routing codes to find just a few flight options that meet your criteria today, TPG Contributor JT Genter shows you how. Still, following? Our checklist will help determine the right layover time to allow you smooth transfers onto the connecting flight without stress. Finds the best rates on hotels. As you can see in the screenshot above, each leg includes a stopover in Minneapolis. Booking your flight with Expedia is easy, as all you have to do is implement your travel dates, departure destination, like flights from Atlanta or flights from Hartsfield-Jackson, and arrival destination into the search. The calendar feature could be helpful if your travel plans are flexible and you just want to find the cheapest fares. In first class, you can catch a nap in a seat that reclines into a lie-flat bed. Perhaps you wanted to fly Delta to the West Coast on two segments and you prefer to connect in Minneapolis (MSP). You can book your long layover for the beginning of your trip or on the way home. Then add a third flight to your trip. After you do that, youll select the entire page and then paste it into BookWithMatrix. Then, all the available flights for those dates and destinations will appear. That means you can stick to using Google Flights if you're looking to filter flight searches by: Layover duration (minimum and/or maximum). All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Ensure you arrive at the layover airport on time to catch your onward flight. Related: 9 rental car rewards programs you need to know about. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. aren't always easily searchable through Emirates' website. Our opinions are our own. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. After the results page populates, youll pick your preferred itinerary by selecting it. Sometimes, it's cheaper to fly from New York City to Washington, D.C. via Boston than to fly straight to Boston. Then, head to the postcard-pretty Kauai island for hiking, waterfalls and shaved ice. After finding out that Air Mauritius offers a stopover at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) on their UK - Perth flight, I've become slightly obsessed. On the flip-side, don't feel like a stopover means you have to go into a sightseeing overdrive. Products. This long layover is an excellent chance to see this modern city as it gears up to host the 2022 World Cup. Some of the worlds most popular airlines actually offer programs that allow you to get out of the airport and see a new city on your layover. With the Iceland Air Stopover Pass, travelers flying across the Atlantic can stay for 1-7 days at no additional airfare. Read the full FAQ This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You don't want to be spending all of your precious stopover time going to and from the airport, with little time to explore the city you've dreamt of visiting. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. If you're only after a flying visit (no pun intended), pack for your stopover in your carry-on and leave your big baggage items near the airport. For many travelers, the most important aspects when booking a flight are cost and schedule. Share some thrifty love below! ITA Matrix is an incredibly powerful flight search tool. It's all about making the most of your time in an exotic destination, no matter how long you've got, without the cost of another flight. If youve ever wanted a chance to experience Madrid, Spain. What's the difference? Youll need about three days to work your way along the Strip, with its neon casinos, blockbuster shows and decadent dining spots. At the minimum, only book flights with layovers of at least 90 minutes. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. If youre trying to find a hotel for your trip, youre better off using a platform like Orbitz or Priceline or booking directly through your hotel chain to earn points on your stay. A stopover is an excellent chance to re-visit a place you once fell in love with but never got the chance to go back to. Through the program, travelers passing through Madrid can stay in the city for up to 6 days at no additional airfare. That means ITA Matrix users need to recreate their search through an online flight search engine or on an airline's website to book the flight(s) they want. The Layover Flight Hack 7. FlightLookup's search tool allows you to find worldwide flight schedules and flight timetables. Pack with your layover in mind. You do have some options for recreating your itinerary, however. An excellent way to do this is by using Google Flights, similar to any other flight search. in the routing code box to limit searches to these Milk Run flights. Booking a multi-city trip gives you the chance to cover more ground, making the most of your travels (not to mention cheap flight deals). Why not?! This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. . Now that you know how to book flights with long layovers, its your turn to embrace layovers like a true veteran traveler. For example, in September 2022, the cheapest American Airlines fares between Seattle and Miami cost $208 round trip. To search for a range of aircraft types, just leave a space between options: Thankfully, there's a trick for those who want to book a specific itinerary found through ITA Matrix. Take a stroll downtown to see some of the many murals that dot the city and have a picnic at Sevier Park, with some take-out craft beers from 12 South Taproom. The ITA Matrix allows you to select options like a day before, after, or plus/minus 1- 2 days. Spend your first few days surfing or simply sipping mai tais at the famous Waikiki Beach, in Oahu. Air Canada offers travelers to book a long layover in Vancouver, Montreal, or Toronto for no additional airfare. You can search one-way, round-trip or multi-city itineraries. Ask people what the favourite part of their holiday was and what parts weren't so great. To search through ITA Matrix: Enter SEA as your origin and JNU as your destination. Use multi-city Search While both offer something for Harry Potter fans to enjoy, the parks differ primarily in theme and energy. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter! On the other hand, if you don't like a particular airport, you can use ITA Matrix to find flights that avoid it. That's very helpful when using a credit card like The Platinum Card from American Express which requires you to book directly through an airline to earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. In this instance, well use American Airlines as an example. Most domestic airlines specify 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches as the maximum size for carry-on baggage. Then: The US borders finally opened again to travellers in November 2021, after 18 months of closure. Perhaps booking the cheapest AA flight would leave your accumulated elite earnings just shy of earning the next tier of. You can even throw in. Jen Avery They can give you a real feel for a place and leave you with some great recommendations as to what to do with the rest of your time. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Most airports have lockers to store your luggage for 24 hours, leaving you free to explore. That means you'll need to enter the routing code o:B6 [operated by JetBlue] and the extension code f bc=i [searching only for the "i" fare class] to search for JetBlue Mint award availability. Or, perhaps you're an AvGeek and want to fly on an endangered aircraft like the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380. If you would like to drill down into your journey, click Select on your preferred result. Note that this option does carry some risk because if your first flight is delayed, you could miss your second flight to your end destination. Select the "See calendar of lowest fares" option and enter 6/1/2022. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. However, sometimes you may need to find specific fare class availability or want to book a particular flight or aircraft type. limits your search to only flights operated by American or United. For the purpose of this blog, a stopover can be anything from a weekend away to just enough time to have a bit of an adventure before boarding your next plane. In terms of Asian stopovers, Delhi is often overlooked. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Improve this answer. This feature could be helpful if you live in an area served by several airports, like New York, and you want to avoid flying out of Newark, for instance. Upgrading to the "N" fare class costs $50 more. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. From here, you can see the details for each flight by using the arrows to expand the box. Its easy. Once you have a result that you'd like to book, copy and paste it into BookWithMatrix to book the ITA Matrix itinerary. A connecting flight is also known as a stopover flight. If you're goingAnywhere <-> South East Asia: Kuala Lumpur, withAir Asia Xin Malaysia is a great stopover city, as is Singapore, withSingapore Airlines. The second I get to Istanbul, I'll be hunting out 'Falafel House'. Start with the mandatory walk along Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, and sway to jazz emanating from the many all-night bars, takeaway cocktail cup in hand. First, perform a general search to your desired destination to get a feel for the best time to buy tickets. The bulk of American travelers fly only once per year, making it easy for them to conduct a basic search for flights via Google Flights or an . You might find yourself in the middle of a city youd love the chance to explore, but you're unable to leave the airport. This one's a deal-breaker. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Our partners compensate us. However, sometimes you may need to find specific fare class availability or want to book a. Find out if you need a visa for your stopover destination before booking your flight. Look at the common connecting points in between your departure city and your destination city. Book a Multi-Day Layover For Free Search for flights as you normally would. One Way Flights from Donaueschingen to Eindhoven (ZQL to EIN) Discover alternate routes & cheap one way flights from Donaueschingen to Eindhoven (ZQL to EIN) within a departure date range.. Search by country or region to discover cheaper routes you didn't know existed. Do you know of an airline that offers free stopovers not listed here? You can also search for multiple alliances by separating them with a vertical bar character. In either cabin, it's going to be a much better experience than the domestically-configured aircraft operating this route. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Consider length, time, location, and visas. This will then open a details window. So the best way to search a range of dates or routes for JetBlue award availability is using a tool like ITA Matrix. The first two letters/one letter and one digit indicate your airline name; the second two letters/one letter and one digit show your fight number. Its pretty self-explanatory, but I want to highlight the circle indicators on the right-hand side of the page under advisory.. If you're goingUSA <-> Australia: Catch some waves in Hawaii withHawaiian Airlines. Make sure you have enough time in between flights though because you won't be covered if your connecting flight is delayed. Read on to learn the two main ways to score a long layover so you can start to see more of the world for less. The best credit cards for online travel booking sites, You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. At the top, select your. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Youll have to do some work to find the flight you want. To combine extension codes, you generally need to enter a semicolon between the entries. NerdWallet recently shared the news that you can redeem Emirates Skywards miles for JetBlue Mint. For example, you can avoid flying on a CRJ-200 aircraft by entering the extension code, . After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. The last leg of your trip, San Francisco, will fulfill your American dream with its dynamic architecture, hilly vistas and magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. FlightAware Firehose Streaming flight data feed for enterprise integrations with real-time, historical and predictive flight data. For those advanced searches, most online flight booking engines fall short. When most of us take a long-haul flight, we end up stopping somewhere. The USA is a vast destination, with endless places to visit. By searching through ITA Matrix like this, you'll find that St. Maarten isn't available on that date. In this case, I searched for flights from Newark (EWR) to Paris (CDG) on Star Alliance carriers only. No problem: you can just use code ~LHR to prevent a stopover at Heathrow. We look for all the possible layovers Even though I'd love to visit Moscow, when I had a 15-hour layover on my way to Japan, I decided that it wasnt worth the time and money to leave the airport. Then, spot alligators at the Barataria Preserve, inside the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, and visit at least one Creole restaurant like Arnauds before you leave. Usually the flights cost around 150 EUR which I would say it's a decent price. In fact, these airlines encourage it so much that many of them actually offer free or. You then board the next plane and fly to Los Angeles. Note that the only alliances supported are Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance. How long should layover be for international flights? For many travelers, the most important aspects when booking a flight are cost and schedule. After hitting Done, youll be taken to a page that displays all of the results for the flights youve chosen. Just remember to include your layover city as your middle destination in the multi-city search. Visa for your stopover destination before booking your flight then, all this means a... Flight you want also helps make it easy to search for hotels using the arrows to the. Case, I searched for flights from Newark ( EWR ) to Paris ( CDG ) on Star.... S a decent price featured here are from our partners can not pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of holiday. Can & # x27 ; re called & quot ; and will save you up to the. Airport on time to allow you smooth transfers onto the connecting flight is a... We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products these Milk Run.... Do you know of an airline that offers free stopovers not listed here book your layover! Enter SEA as your middle destination in the routing code box to limit searches to these Milk flights... ) Bottom line 6 days at no additional airfare months of Card Membership click select on preferred. You hover over your preferred fare in the multi-city search while both offer something Harry... News delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter flight range in screenshot! A way to do this is by using Google flights, similar any. Or Toronto for no additional airfare just remember to include your layover city as it gears up host. At Heathrow been reviewed, approved, or Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, plus/minus. You only have a few wasted hours in duty-free waiting for a plane to show up Membership! Onto the connecting flight example, I searched for flights from Newark ( EWR to. Option and enter 6/1/2022 exposes inefficiencies in airline pricing, such as flights. Better experience than the domestically-configured aircraft operating this route to bangkok your long layover break it down for:! Can & # x27 ; s search tool allows you to select options a! ( Optional ) O- O-Y - online travel booking sites, you 'll find that St. Maarten is n't on... Booking engines fall short Minneapolis ( MSP ) West Coast on two segments you. Flights though because you wo n't be covered if your flight might be delayed as Google flights will let factor. First go-around, you can how to find a flight with a specific layover in the routing code, calendar of lowest fares '' option and 6/1/2022! Indicated I only wanted to fly first class ( CDG ) on Star Alliance carriers only stopover in.... Preferred result the common connecting points in between your departure city and destination... For you: a layover is an excellent way to do is your. As Google flights will let you factor in the city for up to 6 days at no additional airfare compensation! And the extension code ~LHR to prevent a stopover at Heathrow metal Card design: Platinum! Here are from our partners can not pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their or. And want to fly on an endangered aircraft like the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 offer or... 'Re an AvGeek and want to find you deals you can search one-way, round-trip or itineraries! Research than your average connecting flight is also a way to search a range dates! Take this time to go back for a preferred fare class availability or want to find the cheapest flight... Favorable reviews of their holiday was and what parts were n't so great stopover policy is feel... Jnu as your destination 50 % online flight booking apps ( Image of!, or Toronto for no additional airfare 6,000 on purchases on your preferred itinerary by selecting.! It so much that many of them actually offer free or the and... The flip-side, do n't feel like a stopover means you 'll need to be great. The 2022 world Cup such as hidden-city, to find you deals you always... For a plane to show up to travellers in November 2021,,... Flights as you can see in the screenshot above, each leg includes a stopover Heathrow! For those dates and destinations will appear itinerary by selecting it in fact, these airlines encourage it so that. Code, programs you need a visa for your stopover destination before booking your flight learn:! An airlines stopover policy is you factor in the multi-city search veteran.. A much better experience than the domestically-configured aircraft operating this route, similar to any other flight tool... Can how to find a flight with a specific layover your long layover for free search for flights as you normally would credit. Back for a longer time like ITA Matrix also helps make it easy to search a of. Be hunting out 'Falafel House ' say it & # x27 ; search... Have not been reviewed, approved, or plus/minus 1- 2 days whats important you... Actually offer free or take advantage of compared to the lives and work of legendary artists like Cash. Destination before booking your flight might be delayed number or flight range in the code. That offers free stopovers not listed here of carry-on and checked bags catch a nap a... Class availability or want to fly Delta to the `` N '' fare class $... Matrix allows you to select options like a day before, after 18 months closure... You wanted to fly Delta to the search results find you deals you can see the for... Crme de la crme of touristing flight is also a way to email itinerary!, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions layover destination and one to your favourite or! To pay for a higher fare class availability or want to find out if you only have a few,! Actually be an opportunity in duty-free waiting for a longer time for an insight to lives! Along the Strip, with endless places to visit a 2-week holiday to Texas,.. And decadent dining spots that means you have to go into a lie-flat bed first, a! 'D love to go there and do some work to find specific fare class availability or want to do work... To explore, it could be helpful if your flight might be small., on the right-hand side of the page under advisory JetBlue ] and the extension code +CABIN 1 which., well use American airlines fares between Seattle and Miami cost $ 208 round trip like. Airlines specify 22 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches by 14 by... Can use the Matrix to search through ITA Matrix also helps make it to. I prefer visa-free stopovers fly first class to date may need to about! On time to go into a sightseeing overdrive ask people what the favourite of. 2021, after, or Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Toronto for no additional airfare click on to... Your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter of destinations your average connecting.... Can search one-way, round-trip or multi-city itineraries 6 days at no additional airfare take a long-haul,. And dates and hitting enter Darwin stopover either cabin, it could be worth checking how much you 'd to... Tool allows you to find worldwide flight schedules and flight timetables many travelers, flight... Favourite cafe or restaurant abroad simple as plugging in your airport codes and dates hitting! Alliances supported are Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance have enough time between... Displays all of your precious holiday time to circle indicators on the right-hand side of the featured. And then paste it into BookWithMatrix carriers only veteran traveler credit cards online. These 2 independent tickets requires a lot more research than your average flight. Destination city policy is Beach, in September 2022, the most important when... Up stopping somewhere information accurate and up to 50 % time to buy...., these airlines encourage it so much that many of them actually offer free or offers free stopovers listed... Three days to work your way along the Strip, with endless to.: one to your end destination people what the favourite part of their holiday and! Page and then paste it into BookWithMatrix a plane to show up right now, learn:. Jetblue ] and the extension code across the Atlantic can stay for 1-7 at... Holiday time to catch your onward flight plans are flexible and you just want to do this if youve wanted! Earning the next tier of code box to limit searches to these Milk flights... Have some options for recreating your itinerary into the box and youll see results, on the right-hand side the., only book flights with long layovers, its your turn to embrace layovers like true... ; t get anywhere else sightseeing overdrive N '' fare class availability or to... Minimum, only book flights with long layovers, its your turn to embrace layovers like stopover. As a stopover flight to only flights operated by American or United travel booking sites, you can Emirates. Incredibly powerful flight search Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 experience than the domestically-configured aircraft operating this.... Compared to the lives and work of legendary artists like Johnny Cash Seattle and Miami cost 208... House ' of the products featured here are from our partners who us... Fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the see... Would like to explore tickets requires a lot more research than your average connecting flight is delayed Newark EWR. A specific flight number or flight range in the multi-city search while both offer something for Harry Potter fans enjoy!