List of airlines that offer free transit hotel

by Anshul
24 comments
a building with a sign on the front

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Free transit hotel can be of great convenience to travelers with long layovers, especially if they don’t have access to airline lounges. As an airline service, it is also the least advertised perk. Before you jump the gun in excitement, free transit hotel offered by airlines come under strict terms and conditions (no surprise there). The list below is by no means comprehensive or complete, I have compiled them based on personal/shared experiences and some research.

Airlines that offer free transit hotel

Before we get to the list, note that complimentary hotel night/s are provided only when the airline schedule forces long layovers. Passengers that choose a longer layover due to pricing or other reasons do not qualify for this perk.

  • Air Canada (AC)

Does not restrict you based on schedule, instead, they use it as a tool to promote their city hub.

With a connection time of 6 hours or more (in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) between consecutive flights, Air Canada offers complementary one night accommodation to passengers that book Latitude/Premium Economy/Business Class tickets. Economy class travelers can avail subsidized hotel rates. Hotels can be pre-booked online – details available here.

free transit hotel

Air Canada – Complimentary hotel night policy

 

  • Turkish Airline (TK)

TK does restrict this service by schedule, and based on personal experience, are very strict about the policy.

If Turkish airline’ schedule structure causes a long layover, a complimentary 2 night accommodation can be provided to Business class passengers with 7 hours or more layover. Economy passengers with more than 10 hour layover can avail the service as well. According to TK’s website “This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above.

Complementary accommodation can be arranged through the TK ‘Hotel Desk’ located after the customs check. Matthew of ‘liveandletsfly’ did a comprehensive post on TK’s trasit hotel, do check it out.

  • Qatar Airways (QR)

For passengers with extended layover times in Doha, QR goes a step further and arranges accommodation, visas, airport transfers and meals. The basic conditions are as follows;

No connection of less than 8 hours available

Transit time between 8-24 hours

Booking does not include flights to or from Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dubai (DWC or DXB), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) or Sharjah (SHJ).

Further details on transit hotels and conditions are available on QR website.

  • Etihad Airways (EY)

For passengers flying premium cabins with a stopover in Abu Dhabi –  EY offers one free night accommodation to Business Class guests, two free nights accommodation to First Class guests and two nights at the Emirates Palace to guests flying The Residence. Wow!!

For economy passengers, ET offers subsidized hotel rates – Book 2 night stay and get second night free!

Details of EY stopover policy can be found here

  • Emirates Airlines (EK)

For passengers that experience longer transit times due to flight scheduling, EK provides accommodation, meals, ground transportation and visa costs. Stopover restrictions;

First and Business Class passengers: 6-24 hours

Economy Class passengers: 8-24 hours

Hotels have to be pre-booked through Ek’s website and further conditions (fare paid, earlier connections, date of booking) apply. Details of the conditions and booking procedure can be found here. 

  • Air China (CA)

For passengers that transit overnight within 24 hours, CA provides free hotel stay, shuttle service and breakfast. This service is restricted to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Dalian and Hangzhou. CA conditions include specific types of ticketing/connection in order to qualify for the free transit hotel – details available here.

  • China Eastern (MU)

MU provides one night accommodation for passengers that transit overnight at Shanghai, Kunming and Xi’an, when there is no same day connecting flight. Tickets must be purchased from the Hong Kong official website of MU. Further details and hotel booking instructions are available here.

  • China Southern (CZ)

Available in Guangzhou, CZ provides one free accommodation for passengers that transit overnight (8-48 hours) when there is no same day connecting flight. Booking can be done with an agent at counter of 20th gate in departure hall of Bai Yun airport. Depending on the fare paid and class of service, the accommodation can be in hotel grade A-D (as designated by CZ). Further details can be found here.

  • SriLankan Airlines (UL)

For transit time in Colombo for over 8 hours (up to 24 hours), UL will arrange free accommodation as long as transit accommodation conditions are met – details available here.

  • Royal Air Maroc (AT) **Hat Tip to reader JzTz for feedback**

AT provides accommodation and transfers for passengers with a long layover (due to flight schedules) in Casablanca. Hotel can be arranged through ‘Transit and Accomodation’ at arrivals.  Details here.

  • Ethiopian Airlines (ET) **Hat Tip to reader jack the hobo for feedback**

If the layover is between 8-24 hours, ET will facilitate a free transit hotel accommodation and ground transportation. This can be arranged through the ET interline desk at the airport. Stefan of Rapid Travel Chai, has a great guide to ET transit hotels and eligibility.

Airlines that offer discount hotel rates and other stopover services

Nobody does it better than Singapore Airlines (SQ), while they don’t offer free transit accommodations, SQ offers a host of transit hotel and stopover packages to experience the sights and sounds of Singapore – details are a must see

TAP Portugal (TP) , Asiana Airlines (OZ) (*Hat-tip to The Flight Detective*) and Korean Airlines (KE) also seem to offer noteworthy tours and stopover options with subsidized hotel rates if you are on a long layover.

Take Away

Transit hotels can be a valuable asset on a travel itinerary, be it for relaxing before the next hop or simply using it for an extended stopover. Airlines that offer free transit hotel do so under strict guidelines, but can be leveraged for a great value. The key is to not assume eligibility since every airline has unique requirements.

As mentioned earlier, I am sure there are several other airlines that offer this service, this post is my way of collecting this information in one place. If you have experience with utilizing free transit hotel service, please share with a comment below.

24 comments

Judit Toth August 7, 2018 - 4:43 pm

Egypt air also offers free overnight hotel and meals for long layover flights, Ive taken them in Cairo on multiple occasion. Very nice 4 star hotels, close to the airport, with fabulous buffet dinner.

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Points Miles and Bling August 7, 2018 - 5:02 pm

Thanks for sharing! Is this a published benefit?

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Hurricane Harvey, Quick Roundup and Thoughts - Tagging Miles August 31, 2017 - 8:08 am

[…] the Travel Update – What airlines offer free transit hotels. This is a pretty nice game changer for some places that force an overnight […]

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Drop's Drop, Jiuzhaogou's Falls, Trash Island - Rapid Travel Chai August 22, 2017 - 6:58 pm

[…] List of airlines that offer free transit hotel. […]

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shonuffharlem August 22, 2017 - 1:33 pm

Where do you see such offers on the airlines websites?

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Bling August 22, 2017 - 7:18 pm

I have linked each airline to their webpage with the related details on transit hotels. Is that what you were looking for?

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Why Go Bathroom Before You Fly, Best European Souvenirs, Save When Canceling AA Awards - BaldThoughts August 22, 2017 - 7:49 am

[…] List of airlines that offer free transit hotel. – Long layover + free hotel stay = an extra vacation on the way to your vacation.  So awesome! […]

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Free Transit Hotels, Domes of Elounda, Tsar Bomba, Smiley Index, MMS Mistakes - TravelBloggerBuzz August 22, 2017 - 4:30 am

[…] Good to know! List of airlines that offer free transit hotel. […]

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Lee Huffman August 19, 2017 - 10:08 pm

Long layover + free hotel stay = an extra vacation on the way to your vacation. So awesome!

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Bling August 20, 2017 - 9:32 am

Totally! This is the only way I have gulped down 15 hour layovers 🙂

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jack the hobo August 19, 2017 - 8:08 pm

ET and MS also offer free hotels even when you purposely schedule a long layover. I have done this myself

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Bling August 20, 2017 - 9:30 am

Thanks Jack, updated with ET info. Could not find specific guidelines on MS website though..please link it here if you have it – Cheers!

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jack the hobo August 20, 2017 - 3:45 pm

I’m not sure if there is anything on the website but there is alot of info on this FT thread, you also get a free tour etc. I have used this service myself https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-middle-eastern-african-airlines/1036309-cairo-stopover-programme-egypt-air.html

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KanExplore August 24, 2017 - 5:14 am

ET is probably the best. If you meet the layover time frame it’s all arranged for you even before you board your first flight and with no proactive move on your part. I was flying on United coach award points, picked up my ET boarding pass in Johannesburg, and at the same moment the agent handed me my hotel voucher with the name of the hotel on it. I had done nothing to organize this, nor did I need to request the service. All automatic. Buffet dinner and breakfast included.

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Bling August 24, 2017 - 9:43 am

Wow. That is super efficient and generous, most airlines extend the perk only to non-award tickets. What hotel did you get in Addis? Thanks for sharing your experience – cheers!

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KanExplore August 24, 2017 - 10:40 am

Harmony Hotel in my case. You don’t get your choice, by the way. They assign you to one. Of course you’d always be free to book your own at your own expense if you prefer. It is generous, which makes me worried about how long they can keep it up.

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Bling August 24, 2017 - 11:17 am

Yep, no choice in this case. There is some wiggle room when you book through a airline travel desk upon arrival – Turkish agents have entertained my request on one occasion. Some airlines guarantee 3*/4* hotels based on cabin you fly. Etihad is a good example of that…but its Etihad. No comparison to ET..

nisha 95 August 19, 2017 - 4:06 am

Great information, The complete details about airlines.Thanks for the valuable information.

Travel Tips

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Bling August 19, 2017 - 9:31 am

Thanks for reading, glad you found it useful! Cheers

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Flight Detective August 19, 2017 - 2:46 am

Asiana also offer a free transit hotel for long connections, so you can add that to your list. Friends of mine use it when they are flying to London.

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Bling August 19, 2017 - 9:23 am

Thanks Bud! Is it free hotel though? The website suggests its discounted transit hotel and tour packages – https://us.flyasiana.com/C/en/homepage.do?menuId=003005007003000&menuType=CMS
Added to the post – Cheers!

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Flight Detective August 19, 2017 - 3:40 pm

Yes, I saw the same on the web site. My friends flying Sydney to London stopping in Seoul do indeed get a free hotel for transit – STPC. They’ve mentioned it a few times and rather like it.

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JzTz August 19, 2017 - 1:17 am

Royal Air Maroc does provide a free transit hotel. Both in Y (3* part of the same building) and C (4* part of that building).
Did this when I was there. Had to ask around to find the (inconveniently located) transit office but was given a room without any problem.
https://www.royalairmaroc.com/int-en/Travel-Info/At-the-airport/Transit

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Bling August 19, 2017 - 9:26 am

Thanks a lot for sharing – they sure do offer a complimentary hotel+transfer. Added to post with a hat-tip, Cheers!

Reply

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