Have you heard of the stopover system? For travel enthusiasts, it might be a familiar concept, but for international flights, there are some great deals, like stopovers and open-jaw tickets. Among these, the stopover system allows you to save on travel costs by purchasing a ticket with a layover, where you can stay in the connecting city and visit two or more countries in one trip. If you want to visit multiple countries but find airfare too expensive, or if you've always spent just a few hours in your layover city but want to make the most of it, this could help solve some of those issues. In this article, I'll explain what a stopover is and go over the steps on how to use it. Be sure to check it out!
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What is a stopover?
A stopover refers to staying for more than 24 hours in a connecting city on your way to your final destination. Typically, a layover (transit) only involves staying a few hours until your next flight departs, but with a stopover, you can actually spend time in the connecting city, adding more excitement and enjoyment to your trip.
How to Find Tickets Using Stopovers
ANA (All Nippon Airways) and JAL (Japan Airlines) operate international flights between Japan and other countries, but for flights between two foreign destinations, you will need to use foreign airlines.
- How to Search for Tickets
On the official websites of ANA and JAL, you can search for multiple city itineraries. However, if you search using Tokyo-Dubai as the first leg (layover), you'll find connecting flights to Dubai as options, which can be quite inconvenient. For searching stopover tickets, it's recommended to use 'Google Flights'! - Search using Google Flights
Searching with Google Flights is very simple—just like with ANA and JAL, you search for flights between multiple cities! You can use the filter to specify the number of stopovers and also narrow down your search by your preferred airline alliance (Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam).
① Select the 'Multiple Cities' option in the Google Flights search settings.
② From the recommended flights, you can choose the flights you prefer for each segment. In this case, you can travel the entire route from Narita (NRT) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Paris (CDG) and back to Narita (NRT) for a total of ¥141,680. *Note that the third segment is via AUH.*
Round-trip direct flights from Narita (NRT) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) or from Haneda (HND) to Dubai (DXB) are priced at a minimum of ¥179,110. Using a stopover option significantly reduces the cost.
- Points to Note When Booking Airline Tickets
With Google Flights, you can book tickets directly from airlines or through booking sites like Expedia and Booking.com. However, if the prices are similar, it's best to book directly with the airline. Many issues have been reported where travelers purchased tickets through booking sites and faced difficulties, such as flight cancellations, without the direct support of the airline. Booking directly with the airline helps avoid such problems and ensures a smoother travel experience.
Benefits of Using a Stopover
It goes without saying that the main benefit of using a stopover is the ability to travel to two or more countries at a lower cost in one trip. However, some airlines offer even more attractive options. For example, Qatar Airways provides stopover packages that include not only hotel stays but also tours and activities, allowing you to plan your sightseeing in a cost-effective manner.
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Points to Consider When Taking a Stopover
When utilizing a stopover, there are additional points to consider beyond just booking the airline ticket.
- Legal Aspects
Unlike a standard transit, a stopover involves entering the country of the layover. Be sure to check the entry requirements, visa conditions, and quarantine regulations for the country you’ll be staying in! Failing to meet these requirements could result in being denied entry and having to return home, which would be the worst-case scenario... - Airline Regulations
Since the rules and conditions for stopovers can vary by airline, be sure to check these details in advance. Some stopovers are offered for free, while others may come with a fee.In the case of Etihad Airways,
AREA1, AREA2, and AREA3 are Traffic Conference Areas defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also known as TC1, TC2, and TC3.
And here are the area divisions:
| TC1 / Area1 | North America, South America, Hawaii, etc. |
| TC2 / Area2 | Europe, Middle East, Africa, etc. |
| TC3 / Area3 | Asia, Oceania, Guam, etc. |
Summary
This time, we discussed the stopover program and how to actually use it. The idea of visiting two or more countries on one trip is quite uncommon. The stopover can be a great way to get a more cost-effective airfare than simply flying back and forth to one country. To make the most of your long vacation and expand your horizons by traveling more, definitely consider using this option!
