Airport Layover Rooms: A Comfortable Stopover Solution

A long layover can be tedious, and sometimes, all you want is a place to rest and sleep before your next flight. While some airports do not have accommodation options, some major airports have transit hotels, capsule hotels, and sleeping pods inside the airport. Additionally, some airlines offer complimentary hotel stays for a night or two, depending on specific criteria such as ticket type, minimum fares, and transit times.

Airlines that offer free hotel stays for long layovers

While airports themselves do not typically provide rooms for layovers, some airlines offer complimentary hotel stays for long layovers, allowing passengers to rest, recharge, and even fit in some sightseeing. To qualify for free accommodation, passengers must meet specific criteria, including ticket types, minimum fares, and transit times. It is important to note that conditions vary from airline to airline, and it is recommended to check the requirements carefully before booking a flight.

• China Southern Airways: Offers a complimentary one-night stay in a transit hotel, along with free meals and airport transfer for international passengers with 8-48 hour layovers at Guangzhou Airport. Business class passengers may have a choice of better hotels.
• Air China: Provides a free overnight stay in partner hotels, complimentary breakfast, and airport transfers for eligible passengers with extended layovers in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, or Chongqing. The ticket must meet certain requirements, and all flights must be operated by Air China, Shandong Airlines, or Shenzhen Airlines.
• Dubai Connect Service: Offers complimentary accommodation in select hotels in Dubai, along with meal vouchers, airport transfers, and visas for passengers with long connection times between flights. This service is valid for transfers between 8 and 24 hours for economy class and 6 and 24 hours for first and business class when no other shorter connections are available.
• Etihad Airways: Provides two free nights in top-rated hotels for passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi for 18 hours or more. The reservation must be made at least 72 hours in advance, and the offer applies to specific ticket types and travel periods.
• Ethiopian Airlines: Arranges free hotel accommodation, meals, and shuttle services for passengers with connections of 8-24 hours in Addis Ababa when no earlier connections are available. Business class passengers can choose from premium hotels, and a complimentary transit visa is also provided.
• Gulf Air: Offers free hotel accommodation, airport transfers, transit visas, and a free guided tour of Manama's capital for passengers with layovers of 7-24 hours at Bahrain International Airport.
• Qatar Airways: Provides free stopover accommodation in Doha, including transit visas, airport transfers, and meal vouchers for travellers with layovers of 8-24 hours when no shorter connections are available.
• Royal Air Maroc: Offers a free hotel room for passengers with layovers of more than 8 hours in Casablanca, provided there is space available. This offer is for passengers who already have a visa for Morocco or are eligible for visa-free entry.
• Royal Jordanian: Provides complimentary hotel accommodation, meals, and airport transportation for passengers with long transit times in Amman. This offer applies to non-promotional economy or business class fares, with a minimum connection time of 8 hours (6 hours for business class) and not exceeding 24 hours.
• Sri Lankan Airlines: Offers one free night in a hotel for customers with an 8-24 hour stopover in Colombo, provided there are no shorter connections available. There is a minimum required ticket fare for this offer.
• Turkish Airlines: Offers complimentary accommodation for international passengers with long layovers in Istanbul. Economy passengers must have a layover of more than 12 hours, while business class passengers must have a layover of more than 9 hours, and there must be no shorter connecting flights.
• XiamenAir: Provides free hotel rooms and meals for most itineraries with international legs and layovers of 6-24 hours. However, not all fare classes are eligible, and the accommodation standard depends on the cabin class.

Transit hotels

In some cases, airlines may offer complimentary hotel stays for long layovers, ranging from one to two nights. These offers often come with additional perks such as complimentary meals, airport transfers, and even guided tours of the city. However, to qualify for free accommodation, specific criteria such as ticket types, minimum fares, and transit times must be met, and conditions vary from airline to airline.

For example, China Southern Airways offers a one-night complimentary stay in a transit hotel, free meals, and airport transfer for international passengers with 8-48 hour layovers at Guangzhou Airport. Similarly, the Dubai Connect Service provides complimentary accommodation, meal vouchers, airport transfers, and a visa to enter the country for economy class passengers with layovers between 8 and 24 hours.

It is important to note that transit hotels are not the only option for travellers facing long layovers. Some airports also offer sleeping pods or capsule hotels, providing a more affordable and space-efficient option for travellers to rest during their layover.

Capsule hotels

Features and Amenities

Location

• YotelAir: London Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport, and London Gatwick Airport.
• Sleep'n Fly Lounge: Dubai International Airport, Concourse A of Terminal 3.
• Bed&Boarding: Naples International Airport (Napoli-Capodichino), Terminal 2.
• CapsuleTransit: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Terminal 2.
• GoSleep: John F. Kennedy Airport, Helsinki Vantaa Airport.
• NapCabs: Munich Airport, Berlin-Tegel Airport.
• Minute Suites: Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Baltimore, Dallas, Philadelphia, and North Carolina.

Booking and Payment

Benefits

In summary, capsule hotels are a welcome addition to airport amenities, providing travellers with a much-needed space to rest and recharge during long layovers or travel delays. With their increasing popularity, it is likely that we will see more of these innovative hotels popping up in airports worldwide.

Sleeping pods

• GoSleep: Reclining seats with a cover for privacy, featuring a reading light, internet access, power connectors, and a luggage compartment. The seat can be reclined into a fully flat-bed position. GoSleep pods can be found in Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, and Helsinki Airport.
• YotelAir: A capsule hotel offering private cabins with single or double beds, a workspace, and a private bathroom. The cabins have free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. YotelAir has locations in London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and Istanbul Airport.
• Napcab: Private cabins manufactured in Germany, featuring a bed, a workspace, multimedia touchscreen, power connectors, anti-jet-lag lighting, and internet access. Napcabs can be found in Munich Airport, Berlin-Tegel Airport, and other airports.
• SleepBox: Single or double sleep boxes with a bed and a desk space, as well as power plugs, WiFi, and reading lamps. The cabins are soundproof and have tinted window shades for privacy.

Requirements for free accommodation

While some airports have transit hotels, whether or not you receive free accommodation during a layover depends on the airline you are travelling with. Each airline has its own specific criteria for free accommodation, including ticket type, minimum fare, and transit time.

China Southern Airways

China Southern Airways offers a one-night complimentary stay in a transit hotel, free meals, and airport transfer for international passengers with 8-48 hour layovers at Guangzhou Airport. Business class passengers can choose from a selection of better hotels. To book your free accommodation, you must meet all the requirements (only certain cabin classes qualify) and do so up to 6 months in advance. For last-minute trip arrangements, you can visit the Guangzhou Airport accommodation counter and you will be assigned a room.

Air China

Air China offers a transit accommodation program for eligible passengers with layovers in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, or Chongqing. The offer includes a free overnight stay in one of Air China's partner hotels, with complimentary breakfast and airport-hotel transfer. Luxury accommodation is reserved for eligible passengers with layovers in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai. To qualify, your connecting flight ticket number must begin with 999 (this offer is not valid for economy superdeal tickets) and all your flights must be operated by Air China, Shandong Airlines, or Shenzhen Airlines. Upon arrival at the airport, visit the transit service counter or contact the hotel directly for airport pickup.

Dubai Connect Service

Dubai Connect is valid for transfers between 8 and 24 hours for economy class, and 6 and 24 hours for first and business class, when no other connections are available. Your flights to and from Dubai must be operated by Emirates or Qantas and booked at least 24 hours in advance. The service includes complimentary accommodation in a hotel in Dubai, meal vouchers, airport transfer, and a visa to enter the country.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways offers two free nights in a top-rated hotel when transiting through Abu Dhabi for 18 hours or more. When booking your flight, you can choose from a list of hotels. The reservation must be made at least 72 hours before the arrival date. This service applies to economy, business, and first-class tickets issued before 1 March 2020 for travel between 20 April and 30 November 2020, excluding major events and conferences.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines will arrange free hotel accommodation, meals, and a shuttle service for passengers with a connection of 8-24 hours in Addis Ababa when no earlier connection is available. Business class passengers can choose from a selection of the finest hotels in the city. Once you arrive at the Bole International Airport, head to the transit desk and an agent will take care of all arrangements, including a complimentary transit visa.

Gulf Air

Gulf Air passengers are entitled to free hotel accommodation from 7 to 24 hours when transiting at Bahrain International Airport. In addition to a complimentary hotel night, the stopover program includes airport transfer, a transit visa, and a free guided tour of Manama's capital. To book your stay, call the Worldwide Contact Center up to 24 hours before departure or visit Gulf Air's Customer Service Desk at the airport for last-minute trips.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways can arrange free stopover accommodation in Doha, including transit visas, airport transfers, and meal vouchers for travellers with layovers from 8 to 24 hours when no shorter connections are available. Make sure to book within 72 hours of departure, or proceed to the transfer desk at Hamad International Airport to arrange your last-minute transit accommodation.

Royal Air Maroc

For passengers facing a layover of more than 8 hours in Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc will provide a free hotel room for one night when space is available. The accommodation can be arranged at the transfer desk after arrival at Mohammed V International Airport for passengers who have a visa for Morocco or are eligible for visa-free entry.

Royal Jordanian

Royal Jordanian may provide hotel accommodation, meals, and airport transportation free of charge for passengers with long transit times in Amman. You must be travelling on a non-promotional economy or business class fare, with a connection time of at least 8 hours (6 hours for business class) and not exceeding 24 hours. This offer does not apply for travel within the Middle East, except to/from Basra.

Sri Lankan Airlines

Sri Lankan Airlines offers one free night in a hotel for customers with an 8-24 hour stopover in Colombo when there are no shorter connections available. The minimum required ticket fare is $350 for a one-way trip and $700 for a return trip. Travellers are expected to arrange the transit accommodation through their local Sri Lankan Airlines office, the Global Contact Center, or a travel agent at least 48 hours before arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines offers complimentary accommodation services for international passengers with long layovers. You are entitled to a maximum of two nights' stay in a hotel chosen by the airline. To benefit from the program, your stopover must be longer than 12 hours if you fly economy or 9 hours for business class, and there must not be any connecting flights with shorter transfer times. If you meet all the requirements, head to the hotel desk at Istanbul Airport upon arrival to claim your free hotel room.

XiamenAir

Most XiamenAir itineraries that include an international leg with a layover of 6-24 hours qualify for a free hotel room and free meals. Not all fare classes are eligible, so check your ticket before requesting a transit hotel. The accommodation standard will depend on your cabin class. You can make all the arrangements when you arrive at the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport transfer service counter.

Frequently asked questions