Definition
A planned break of more than 24 hours at an intermediate city on an international ticket. Unlike a layover, you leave the airport, clear immigration and stay at least one night before flying on to your destination on the same ticket.
How a stopover works
On a Delhi–Melbourne trip via Singapore, you could connect in two hours, or stay in Singapore for two nights and fly on to Melbourne on the same ticket. Many full-service fares allow one stopover free or for a modest fee; cheaper fares may not allow one at all, or price it as two one-way tickets. The fare rules tell you which.
Gulf and Asian airlines actively sell stopovers, sometimes with discounted hotels, city tours or help with visas. Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines all run stopover programmes, but the terms change often, so check them when you book.
Visas come first
A stopover means entering the country, so you need its visa or visa-free entry. For Indian passport holders, Singapore requires a visa. Dubai needs a UAE visa unless you qualify for visa on arrival, for example by holding a valid US visa or a UK or EU residence permit. Qatar has allowed Indians visa-free short stays subject to conditions such as a confirmed hotel booking. Check current rules on our visa hub before adding the extra nights.
When a stopover makes sense
- Long-haul with seniors or children: two nights in Singapore or Dubai split a 15–20 hour trip to Australia or the US into two manageable halves.
- Two destinations for one airfare: Delhi–Doha (two nights)–London often costs little more than the straight return.
- Bags: you usually collect them at the stopover city, so pack an overnight bag that sits on top.