If you’re embarking on a long-haul journey with layovers, taking advantage of airlines’ free transit hotel stays can transform a tiresome trip into a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Many leading airlines in Asia offer these enticing programs, providing eligible passengers with complimentary hotel stays, airport transfers, and even meal vouchers. Here’s a comprehensive guide to airlines’ free transit hotel stay programs offered by some of the top airlines!
Note: As a solo creator, it’s not always easy to stay on top of changes to these lists. If you find a transit hotel is no longer being offered, please let me know, so I can update this list!
Most folks want to know -how can I get a free transit hotel stay with one of these airlines carriers? To be eligible for a free transit hotel with your airlines carrier, you need to surpass a minimum of in-transit hours. Upon booking, most of the time, you will not be notified of your eligibility to a free transit hotel. Airlines and their freebies are sneaky like that. You have to be in-the-know!
Then your long layover has too meet conditions– the first and foremost being that it’s an organic booking and you were not able to choose a flight with a shorter layover time. This protects airlines from passengers who try to game the system by purposely booking the longest layovers. You had to have gotten the long layover choices because it was the only choice left Sometimes, things like flight codes and booking types can break it also.
It depends upon the airlines carrier you are flying with. To register for the free transit hotel stay or check your eligibility, check the airlines transit hotel program website.
Some airlines programs require you to book before your arrival. Other airlines transit accommodation programs allow you to sign in at the respective airline’s transit desk or customer support desk upon arrival at the airport. These desks are never quite made clear upon booking and random airport staff will not know of these, so you need to be aggressive seeking them out. Your airlines’ customer support desk staff can provide further information, verify eligibility, and assist in arranging the complimentary hotel stay.
Do I need a visa?
You must check the requirements of the program. Some require you to get a tourist visa and others don’t . Tourist visas are for when you travel outside the airport. When I did my complimentary Turkish Airlines transit hotel stay, the website said we were required to get a tourist visa as our hotels were outside the airport.
After checking into the transit hotel desk, they’ll send you to a meeting place outside baggage claim. If you are in a country that has a visa requirement but the airlines does not require you to get a tourist visa– I had this experience when doing my Doha airport layover tour– the airlines staff with usher you through immigration to the meeting place where there is a van. They take responsibility for you so while doing this complimentary program you are to maintain their strict guidelines!
Please, if it is complementary, do not ruin it for other travelers by breaking the rules.
Many layover hotel programs include meal vouchers and airport transfers. Follow the schedule they give you for your airport pickup.
Sightseeing the city is not part of the complimentary transit hotel deal–and if you do not have a visitor’s visa, so you are not legally allowed to “travel the country.” I hate when tourists try to abuse a complimentary system.
TURKISH AIRLINES MEAL VOUCHERturkish airlines hotel shuttle
What about my checked luggage?
If you checked your luggage all the way through to your final destination, you may not be able to collect your luggage. If due to your layover, you are required to re-check your luggage upon check-in, then you will be allows to collect your luggage.
I fly with a convertible carryon that meets flight requirements so last minute opportunities like these are never a problem for me- I automatically avoid luggage check-in if I know I have long layovers.
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa Stopovers offers eligible passengers a free transit hotel stay at the Ethiopian Skylight In-Terminal Hotel for layovers of 8 to 24 hours in Addis Ababa Airport.
The free transit hotel offers a complimentary stay, complimentary water and free WiFi. Their site has links to resources in transportation and make sure you claim your essentials such as ATM, tourism kiosk information before you leave Arrivals.
This is something I wish I researched earlier back when I flew a lot of Chinese airlines, because they were more cost-effective and affordable. China Southern Airlines Free Transit Accommodations offers a complimentary one night hotel stay and to/from transportation to the hotel for flights with a transit of 6 to 30 hours in airport hubs: Beijing, Shenzhen, Guanghzou, Wuhan, Dalian, Changsha, Shenyang, Umruqi. Claim your stay at the Transit Accommodation Counter when you arrive. Ask where this is before leaving Arrivals.
There are very specific requirements and exceptions (it’s a little overwhelming) for qualifying for a free stay, so please check the website for fine print.
Free Chinese Transit Visa: Before arriving check your airport to see which free China transit visa is offered at your port. I’ve seen anything from 144 hour transit visa to 240 hour visa to 30 days (it has been changing), which means if you did not meet qualifications for the free hotel, you could easily find inexpensive accommodations nearby. If you’re arriving in the morning you can easily make a day trip out of your time, if that’s so, I’d probably opt to use my layover as a sightseeing trip instead like I did in Shanghai and Beijing. China has loads of inexpensive accommodation and airports such as Beijing have Maglev trains directly into the city. I rode one during a layover that shot me to downtown in under 10 minutes!
3. Royal Jordanian Free In-Transit Hotels – Transit Passengers Accommodations
Royal Jordanian airlines has a Transit Passengers Accommodations program that provides one free transit hotel stay for international passengers with layovers from 8 hours (economy), 6 hours (crown class) and not more than 24 hours in Amman Airport (Jordan)
Complimentary hotel stay, meals and airport transfer.
Please see the program link for exceptions
4. Royal Air Maroc – Airport Transit
Royal Air Maroc’s Airport Transit program provides one complimentary hotel stay for international passengers with layovers over 8 hours in Mohammad V Airport in Casablanca.
Complimentary hotel stay, either in or outside the airport. Meals and transfer provided. If you are outside the airport, you may be subject to a transit visa or exit.
Layover with 4 to 8 hours window can get a complimentary meal. Check site for meal time schedules.
5. Sri Lanka Airlines Transit Accommodation Program
Sri Lanka Airlines Transit Accommodation Program offers a free transit hotel stay for passengers with layovers from 8-24 hours at Colombo Airport. It includes: complimentary hotel stay, meals and airport transfer.
You must book 48 hours prior to arrival and be connecting to another Sri Lanka Air flights. Requirements: You need to get an ETA.
Watch my video on my Sri Lanka Airlines experience + in-flight meals
6. Turkish Airlines Free In-Transit Hotels – Stopover in Istanbul
Turkish Airlines offers a wonderful free in-transit hotel experience and a free stopover in Istanbul program for passengers with long layovers of at least 20 hours or more in Istanbul Airport. Passengers flying internationally and connecting through Istanbul. Departure and return must be to the same destination. The layover must be the shortest possible connection on the available itinerary. You can make reservations up to 72 hours before your flight. Check out my Turkish Airlines transit hotel experience (details here as well)!
Economy class passengers receive a one-night stay in a 4-star hotel.
Business class travelers get a two-night stay in a 5-star hotel.
You cannot use the in-transit hotel and Touristanbul signtseeing tours together on the same layover.
I had a wonderful stay at the Turkish Airlines in-transit hotel for my long layover. Read how I got my comped hotel stay and watch my video above.
Emirates Airlines is world class in its flight experience -even in economy- but did you know if offers free transit hotels? Emirates’ Dubai Connect program provides a free in-transit hotel stay for passengers transiting through Dubai International Airport (DXB) for a layover window of 12- 96 hours. It includes: complimentary visa, hotel stay, airport transfers, and meal vouchers. The layover must be the shortest available connection when booking the flight. It is available for eligible economy, business, and first-class passengers.
At the time of booking, they let you know if you are eligible. If you are uncertain if you qualify, use the customer support messaging system on the website. After booking my Emirates flight to Nepal to speak about YouTube at the Nepal Mela conference for Creators, I immediately messaged them to find out if I qualified for an transit hotel experience. Unfortunately, I didn’t because I booked a certain flight code that did not qualify.
First class and business class passengers receive a luxury hotel, while economy passengers get a comfortable standard hotel, so it pays to upgrade your seat, although when I flew Emirates Economy it felt like flying first class.
Participating hotels are not shabby: Capthorne Hotel Dubai, Le Meridian Airport Hotel Dubai, JW Marriot Marquis and others. It depends upon availability and flight tier.
Otherwise, Dubai Airport has limited lounge seats you might be able to score!
Watch my Emirates Economy + Dubai Airport Experience
This video takes you inside my in-flight experience of Emirates economy, meals and a tour of Dubai Airport, Emirates wing.
8. Qatar Airways Free In-Transit Hotels – Stopover in Doha
Qatar Airways’ Stopover in Doha program offers free or discounted hotel stays for passengers with long layovers from 8 to 24 hours in Hamad International Airport (DOH). The transit must be the shortest available connection when booking the ticket. Economy and business class travelers can take advantage of this offer.
Heavily discounted hotel stays ranging from 4-star to 5-star accommodations up to four nights, depending on class of travel. Discounts go as low as under $20/night which is wonderful!
You want to book in advance- the Qatar customer support desk at Doha can experience long queues! Ideally get your confirmation before arrival into Doha, so you can just go to your hotel.
Personally, I arrived thinking I would inquire about my eligibility but the line was moving so slow with passengers urgently needing assistance to get to their connection, I decided to forego the hotel and opt for the city tour, which was not a loss for me.
The Stopover in Doha program also offers optional city tours for those looking to explore Doha. I did a Doha city tour during my layover and although it was not free, it was very inexpensive and worthwhile! I was surprised that they skirt me through immigration and the bus tour came with a guide, an air-conditioned bus and complimentary water. While I would have loved to stay longer at some of the sites, this layover tour piqued my curiosity of traveling Doha in the future. This is open to anyone who fits within the tour schedule window (likely around 5-6 hours at minimum). A fellow traveler was able to book both, the transit hotel stay and a Doha city tour, so if you have enough time
Sitting on my bus for the Transit Tour Doha Qatardoha airport layover tour
Please remember that the availability and conditions of these programs may change, so it’s essential to verify the details on the respective airlines’ official websites or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information before planning your travel. Have fun!
If you are interested in this guide to airports’ free transit hotel stays, you might be interested in free airport layover tours !
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Christine Kaaloa is a head honcho traveler and travel YouTuber at GRRRLTRAVELER. Traveling solo for over 8 years, I'm an island girl from Hawaii. I love films, art and making travel videos to show you that travel dreams can happen at any age!
Emirates Airlines Review_Dubai Airport Comfy lounge seats aren’t everywhere
