Other stopover programs are overly cumbersome to book. To book a Panama City stopover through Copa, for instance, you have to put your airfare on hold and get on the phone with a reservations agent in the hope that your route is eligible. And Emirates makes you jump on a call with a travel agent or a local Emirates office to add stopovers to existing tickets.
Other Booking Hacks Worth Trying
Stopovers aren’t the only way to book a free (or ultra-affordable) side trip. The website Clever Layover lets you put in your origin and destination points along with a preference for length of layover—it then suggests airfares that save you money by adding an extended stopover. (Think two days in Copenhagen or Berlin on your way from New York to Vienna.)
And even when airlines don’t promote stopovers, they’re worth plugging into a multi-city airfare search. Stopping in Lima for a few days on your way to Cuzco often reduces fares on LAN, for example. (And who doesn’t want to pit stop for a couple of excellent meals in this skyrocketing culinary capital?)
For loyal fliers, United and Alaska Airlines’ reward programs actually allow for free stopovers no matter where you’re heading—as long as you’re using miles.
And if all you’re after is leisure, leisure, leisure, think about booking a cruise with Regent Seven Seas: the luxury liner actually includes pre- and post-cruise hotel stays at all its disembarkation points.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.