ANALYSIS: HOW STOPOVER PROGRAMS BENEFIT BOTH AIRLINES & THEIR PASSENGERS
- Airlines can boost demand by implementing stopover programs rather than layovers.
- Stopovers offer passengers opportunities for cultural exploration, comfort, and reduced rates.
- Stopover programs benefit airlines by enhancing brand image and customer relations and increasing revenue per passenger.
In response to the many issues facing the travel industry, airlines have been developing new ways to get passengers interested in flying again to make more money. One such strategy that is gaining momentum is the implementation of stopover programs, which benefits both sides.
Difference between a stopover and a layover
In air travel, layovers and stopovers are often confused but entail distinct experiences.
- A layover is a short wait in an airport typically of several hours but not more than a day. Layovers which are stops on your way to a final destination are sometimes inevitable. For the period when a layover endures, travelers sometimes stick within the airport save for cases of longer ones where they may choose to move around in town.
- A stopover is not less than twenty-four hours long, most of the time two days. In the course of their transportation, people may decide to make stopovers in order to explore a certain area or wait for a connecting flight. Stopovers give people an opportunity to pause and experience a city or region where they change buses for just one night prior to proceeding with their journey to a permanent place.
| Layover | Stopover | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical duration | A few hours | At least one day |
| Purpose | Passengers must change planes if no direct, costly flights are available for their final destination | Passengers intentionally break their journey, spending a night in the connecting city before continuing to their final destination |
| Luggage | Airlines typically transfer luggage between flights | Passengers often have to retrieve and re-check their luggage |
There are individual preferences and circumstances which will determine whether you want a layover or stopover. A layover may be the preferred choice if reaching the final destination promptly is a priority.
If you have more time on your hands and are interested in exploring other places, then making a stopover is highly recommended as it makes traveling more interesting. Stopovers which come with other benefits, such as reduced rates for hotel stays as well as guided trips around these cities may give more options, making it worth considering an overnight stay en-route to your final destination, if possible.
Which Airlines Give Connecting Passengers Hotel Access?
Whether your stopover is unavoidable or a planned part of your journey, some airlines offer hotel benefits to entice travelers.Why is it convenient for passengers?
On a stopover, passengers can explore the area nearby, relax in their hotel room, or do things around where they have temporarily set up camp. This doesn't only make your travel more pleasant, but it also combats jet lag and makes vacation more fun.
| Passenger benefits |
|---|
| Hotel costs savings |
| Cultural exploration opportunities |
| Increased comfort during long travels |
| Explore new destinations on a single trip |
| Less jet lag |
The stopover programs sponsored by airlines permit travelers to break their lengthy flights by visiting multiple locations on the same journey. To cater to their travelers, airlines join with renowned tourist destinations to offer complimentary or cut-rate accommodations, enhancing travelers' general experience.
However, this program requires flexible travel plans and adherence to specific booking procedures and requirements.
Why is it convenient for airlines?
The stopover programs have been identified as key benefits by airlines. Through these stopovers, tourism is boosted in famous transition cities, providing a lot of revenue for their economies.
Moreover, airlines may take advantage of reward systems, so travelers can spend miles acquired earlier on staying somewhere and having a certain experience while having a stopover, which would help build customer relations without demanding extra payment.
| Airline benefits |
|---|
| Increase passenger demand |
| Drive direct traffic to their hubs |
| Airline brand image improvement |
| Increased revenue per passenger |
| Better customer relations |
However, airlines often have a hard time organizing convenient stopovers; they are obstructed by legacy booking engines and rigid digital platforms, which always make the reservation process difficult. Consequently, travelers don’t enjoy their booking experience because they have different platforms, which makes their experience poor.
Airlines have invested in digital retailing solutions that optimize the booking experience. This has seen them record higher online revenue and increased stopover conversion rates due to responsive booking widgets and simplified interfaces to address such challenges.
Even though planning stopovers can appear complicated from a logistical point of view, airlines are dedicated to making the experience better geared toward passengers on a broader scale. By offering personalized itineraries, exclusive deals, and seamless booking processes, airlines aim to position stopover programs as a valuable asset in the post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Did You Know That Etihad Allows Connecting Passengers To Book Multi-Night Stopovers In Abu Dhabi?
Passengers can stay free for up to two nights and explore the area.Airlines offering stopover programs
Air Tahiti Nui enables passengers traveling between North America and French Polynesia to enjoy extended stopovers in Los Angeles or Seattle. Similarly, PLAY and Icelandair offer stopovers in Iceland as part of transatlantic flight bookings, allowing travelers to experience two countries in one trip.
In Europe, carriers like TAP Air Portugal and Iberia have introduced stopover programs in Porto, Lisbon, and Madrid. TAP Air Portugal was recognized as having the best Stopover Program for the fifth consecutive year.
The Portuguese airline offers a Stopover Program allowing travelers to stay in Portugal for several days at no extra cost. In 2023, around 50% of users, mainly from Brazil, utilized this program. Benefits included discounts on domestic flights within Portugal and exclusive offers from partners. The program primarily targets long-haul markets like Brazil and the US.
In the Middle East, airlines like Etihad Airways, Saudia, and Qatar Airways offer Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Doha stopovers.
While the airline business is still evolving to meet changes in consumer preferences constantly and market creation, the stopover programs represent an intriguing policy that can promote expansion, keep clients as well as enhance the touristic activities of passengers globally.
Have you ever participated in a stopover program? If so, what was the experience like? Let us know in the comments below.
2024-05-08T08:02:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd