The Long Layover
Two years ago, while searching for flights to visit family in France, I inverted the search filters to show flights with the longest layovers possible. Until that point, I typically traveled with family and had inflexible dates that structured my travel plans. And while, yes, I did have a family event that spurred this trip too, I would be flying separately and was feeling adventurous. Since then, I have extended my travel with the help of long layovers more than ten times. Through trial and error, I’d like to document the best learnings from this method of travel so far.
First, a note about long layovers: they are not for the faint of heart. Flights get delayed, luggage weight requirements can be stringent, fatigue sets in at the worst times, and, sometimes, plans A, B, and C are just not going to happen. But it is also, in my opinion, the best show of self-reliance, adaptability, and unexpected joy one can experience.
The Difference between Long Layovers and Stopovers
Stopovers: These are flights with extended stays offered by airlines, in an effort to increase tourism to their country. These extensions do not cost extra, however, many of these airlines are unable to offer competitive pricing in relation to larger companies. The list of airlines who offer this service are ever-decreasing, but I have a list here of those I have found:
Long Layover: These are layovers that span typically between four and 24 hours. They are not airline specific but oftentimes are based in cities where the airlines have hubs. If you fly a route frequently, you may notice the same long layovers passing through the same cities (for example, Finnair flights from LA to Frankfurt often stop in Helsinki despite overshooting the destination).
Choosing a Flight
There are so many websites and resources out there to share the cheapest, best, fastest deals on flights. Ones that get you in the lounges, add points to your credit card, or unlock hidden routes. This list offers none of that. I am not best – or even very good – at purchasing flights, and still, I’ve been able to put together many itineraries for myself which means anyone can too.
What I do when flight searching:
I’ll center the search around one destination. For example, if I’m flying to Paris for one week, I’ll enter the round-trip dates in Google Flights and scan the search results for flight times of 24 hours or more (a direct flight from LA to Paris is just under 11 hours). Then, I look at the details of flight paths – each is unique. There could be a 23 hour flight with 1 stop in Istanbul from 1p to 8p - perfect for a few hours to explore the city then head back after an early dinner. Or there could be a 35 hour flight with 1 stop in Montreal from 6p to 7a the next morning – perfect for dinner and an evening exploring then back to the airport in the morning. Each day offers a different set of options, which I find to be the fun of it.
As a general rule, I’ll stay away from flights with more than one layover. Unless it’s a 45 minute flight to San Francisco first then a long, juicy overnight layover internationally, you’ll just be extending your travel with no real exploration benefits.
Kayak has a great tool on the left side panel to modify results based on layover duration, which can help too.
Typically the price of airfare is similar or less expensive to a direct flight, but if it is not, I wouldn’t take the flight. It may be better to search on SkyScanner for a $30 roundtrip flight during your stay in Europe, for example.
Preparing for the Flights
Once the flights are confirmed, there are a few extra steps I take to mitigate any potential troubles:
I map out how far the airport is from city center by both public transportation and by taxi. Typically I choose to take public transportation into the city from the airport (more cost-effective and fun to navigate) and take a taxi back to the airport (no need for added stress). If it takes more than 30 minutes during non-peak times to make it to city center, a long layover may cause more trouble than it’s worth.
I also keep in mind large events while traveling. Once I took a bus from Athens airport to city center during a big Christmas parade, and we painfully creeped along for the last three blocks before I jumped off trying to make up for lost time. When traveling in Europe, Sundays can bring a different experience than other weekdays, however, I don’t believe they are a deterrent to travel if you are planning mostly tourist activities. Yes, the city will be largely quiet and small shops will be closed, but if you’re focused on museums and restaurants you should be okay. Conversely, I had a lovely time in Zurich on a Sunday, walking alongside families who were gathered in the park, eating at a famous fondue restaurant with shorter wait times, and skipping over the shopping I couldn’t afford anyway.
I plan out my packing accordingly – I’m not a light packer and like to have everything with me. If I’m traveling with a large bag for my final destination, I prefer to know where that bag is at all times. When checking the bag in for a stopover, I’ll ask that it be sent to my layover stop and not my final destination. Similarly, if my carryon needs to be checked in at the gate, I ask for it to be sent to each stop. Storing my luggage at the airport is inexpensive and quick to do; much preferred to having it float around at the airport for overnight or few days.
I keep in mind any extra steps at the airport as they may slow you down. Athens, for example, lets you walk in and out of the airport when you’re traveling within Europe - it felt alarmingly easy! Whereas Ireland and Switzerland can have long passport control lines as you’re exiting. Similarly, there are additional passport checks at international gates before you can queue up for the plane (which always get me!).
Once you’ve arrived at your layover city, there is so much to do and so little time! You really can’t go wrong, but I do have some suggestions coming in a separate post. Happy traveling!
Image: Portugal, 2023