A long layover does not always mean spending the night in the terminal. Some airlines offer complimentary transit hotels for eligible passengers when long connection times are unavoidable. Depending on the airline and fare type, your layover may include a hotel room, meals, airport transfers, and sometimes even a transit visa.
As with most things in air travel, there is a catch. Eligibility requirements vary widely and may depend on your fare class, ticket type, routing, and the length of your connection. Many airlines only provide accommodation when no shorter connection is available.
Below, you’ll find airlines that currently offer complimentary transit hotels and stopover accommodation programs. Be sure to review the requirements carefully before booking, as these programs and their eligibility rules can change without notice.
Updated: June 2026
- Air China
- China Southern Airways
- Emirates Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Gulf Air
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- Sri Lankan Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- XiamenAir
Air China
Air China offers free transit accommodation in select Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Wenzhou. Eligible passengers may receive one night in a partner hotel, breakfast and airport-hotel transfer where available. To qualify, your ticket must generally start with “999,” your flights must meet Air China’s routing and operating requirements, and your transit time must fall within the airline’s rules. Rooms are limited and must be booked in advance; walk-up requests are not accepted.
China Southern Airways
China Southern Airlines offers free transit accommodation for eligible passengers connecting through Guangzhou. The service includes one night in a hotel, breakfast and airport transfers. Eligibility depends on your itinerary, cabin class, ticket rules and connection time, so check the airline’s current requirements before booking. If approved in advance, this is a much better option than trying your luck at the airport after a long flight.
Emirates Airlines
If your long layover is in Dubai, Emirates’ Dubai Connect program may save you from an overnight bench safari. Eligible passengers receive complimentary hotel accommodation, transfers, meals and, where required, visa support. The key catch: you must be booked on the best available connection for your itinerary. In other words, you usually cannot choose a longer layover just to score a free hotel room. Dubai Connect is available for qualifying connections of 6 to 26 hours and must be booked at least 12 hours before your incoming flight to Dubai.
Ethiopian Airlines
If your connection in Addis Ababa is longer than you would like, Ethiopian Airlines may provide complimentary transit accommodation for eligible passengers. The service is designed for travellers whose itinerary requires an overnight stay because no earlier onward connection is available. Eligible passengers with transit times between 8 and 24 hours may receive a hotel room, meals, airport transfers and, where required, a transit visa. The accommodation provided depends on availability and your cabin class. Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, proceed to the airline’s transit desk, where staff will advise whether your itinerary qualifies and arrange the necessary services.
Gulf Air
Gulf Air offers complimentary Stopover Paid by Carrier accommodation in Bahrain for eligible long connections. Economy passengers may qualify with transit times of more than 7 hours and less than 24 hours, while Falcon Gold passengers may qualify with transit times of more than 6 hours and less than 24 hours. Your ticket must meet minimum fare requirements, your flights must be booked on Gulf Air and operated by Gulf Air, and the service does not apply if a shorter qualifying connection is available. Passengers who do not qualify may be able to purchase the stopover package instead.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways offers complimentary transit accommodation in Doha for eligible passengers with a connection time of 8 to 24 hours when no shorter connection is available.
The package may include a hotel room, airport transfers and a temporary entry visa to Qatar. You should submit the request at least 72 hours before departure. If your booking is made within 72 hours of arriving in Doha, visit the transfer desk at Hamad International Airport, but do not assume a room will be available.
Royal Air Maroc
If you have a long connection at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, Royal Air Maroc may provide meal vouchers, lounge rest areas or hotel accommodation, depending on your transit time, cabin class, visa status and room availability. Passengers with shorter connections may receive meal vouchers. For longer connections, Business Class passengers may be eligible for hotel accommodation from 8 hours, while Economy Class passengers may be eligible from 12 hours. If hotel rooms are not available, Royal Air Maroc may direct passengers to the Relax Lounge instead. Hotel accommodation outside the airport depends on being allowed to enter Morocco.
Royal Jordanian
Royal Jordanian may provide free hotel accommodation, meals and airport-hotel transportation for eligible passengers with long connections in Amman. The service applies to passengers travelling on RJ/512 ticket stock, on Royal Jordanian marketed and operated flights, and on eligible non-promotional Economy or Crown Class fares. Economy passengers must have a connection of at least 8 hours, while Crown Class passengers must have a connection of at least 6 hours. The maximum connection time is 24 hours, and accommodation is limited to one night.
Sri Lankan Airlines
SriLankan Airlines offers complimentary transit hotel accommodation for eligible passengers connecting through Colombo for 8 to 24 hours. You must arrive on a SriLankan Airlines flight and connect to another SriLankan Airlines flight on a through ticket under one booking reference. Minimum fare requirements apply, and the hotel or meal voucher must be arranged before you arrive in Colombo. Contact SriLankan Airlines, the Global Contact Center or your travel agent at least 48 hours before starting your journey.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines offers complimentary hotel accommodation for eligible passengers connecting between international flights through Istanbul Airport. Economy passengers may qualify with a layover of 12 hours or more, while Business Class passengers may qualify with a layover of 9 hours or more. As always, there is a catch: you must be booked on the shortest available connection for your route. If a shorter connection exists, even if you did not choose it or it is full, the hotel service may not apply. Eligible passengers should visit the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk on the arrivals level at Istanbul Airport.
XiamenAir
XiamenAir’s current transfer benefit is more limited than a traditional free hotel stay. Eligible international or regional connecting passengers may receive access to a transit lounge in Xiamen or Fuzhou, depending on the route, connection time and fare class. The service applies to eligible connections of 4 to 24 hours where one flight is international or regional and both flights are on the same ticket.