That dreaded word “layover” doesn’t have to drain your wallet or your wanderlust. Sometimes the smartest route to savings involves embracing those connecting flights that everyone else avoids. With airline pricing getting more complex by the day, savvy travelers are discovering that strategic layovers can slash hundreds off airfare while unlocking bonus destinations you never expected to visit.

The Math Behind Layover Savings

Airlines use complex algorithms that often defy logic, where a direct flight from New York to Miami might cost $400. But a flight from New York to Houston with a layover in Miami might only cost $250 — even though it passes through the very city you want to visit. These pricing quirks exist because airlines use lower prices on connecting flights to ensure they fill as many seats as possible.

The savings can be substantial. Recent analysis shows travelers can realize average savings of up to 40% on major routes, with some examples showing even bigger wins. Flying from Salt Lake City (SLC) to London (LHR) cannot and should not cost you more than $1,000 just for basic economy, but connecting flights through major hubs often deliver those European fares for significantly less.

Hub City Advantages

Your connecting flight strategy works best when targeting airline hub cities. Paris is a major hub for Air France and just about all of their flights from the US to elsewhere in France have a layover in Paris. Similarly, Amsterdam serves as KLM’s hub, Istanbul anchors Turkish Airlines’ network, and Dubai connects Emirates passengers worldwide.

When booking connecting flights, grab a short, cheap flight from your home airport to Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), or D.C. (IAD) and you’re ready to fly business class for less. These domestic hubs often serve as launching points for discounted international connections that beat direct flight pricing.

Free Stopover Programs Worth Booking

The real connecting flight goldmine lies in airlines offering free extended stopovers. When you fly transatlantic with Icelandair’s Stopover Program, you can choose to add a Stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare. Stay for a day, or up to a week. This transforms your connecting flight into a two-destination vacation.

Turkish Airlines leads the pack with their Istanbul Stopover Program. Business-class passengers can stay in a five-star or boutique hotel in Turkey for up to two nights, and economy-class passengers can stay at a four-star hotel for one night completely free, as long as your connection is at least 20 hours.

Other standout programs include:

• TAP Air Portugal: Free Lisbon stopovers with hotel discounts and museum passes
• Qatar Airways: Heavily discounted Doha hotel packages starting around $20 per night
• Iberia: Hola Madrid stopover program up to 7 days with 20% off Prado Museum tickets and free transportation cards

Strategic Multi-City Bookings

Smart travelers use multi-city search functions on platforms like Skyscanner to extend natural layovers into mini-vacations. We can go back to Skyscanner and use the multi-city search function to extend that layover into a trip. We put in our original departure date of February 14 from New York City to Los Angeles, but then set the second flight from Los Angeles to Sydney a week later on February 21. The resulting flight with the same airlines is $628 USD. So for a difference of just $19, we now have a week-long trip in Los Angeles.

This technique works particularly well for international travel where airlines already expect longer connection times. Tools like Airwander’s stopover flight finder specialize in finding these opportunities, while traditional sites often hide them in favor of the fastest routes. Google Flights’ multi-city tool also excels at uncovering these extended layover possibilities that can save money while adding destinations.

Hidden City Ticketing: Proceed with Caution

The most controversial connecting flight strategy involves “hidden city” or “skiplagging” tickets, where you book a flight with connections but exit at the layover city. Hidden city ticketing can lead to airfare savings of 20-50%, depending on the route and season. For example, a nonstop one-way United flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Newark (EWR) costs $763 in March 2025. Meanwhile, a Honolulu-Newark-Orlando (MCO) ticket costs just $216 one way.

However, airlines are fighting back hard in 2025. Delta Air Lines recently deactivated around 50,000 SkyMiles accounts, citing abuse related to hidden city ticketing, while United Airlines is making examples of passengers attempting to outsmart the system with hidden-city ticketing. One frequent flyer just received a $3,800 demand for payment after being caught using this tactic on six occasions.

Sites like Skiplagged’s hidden city flight finder make finding these routes easier, but the risks now include losing frequent flyer status, account bans, and hefty financial penalties. Recent airline industry crackdowns on hidden city ticketing show airlines are using AI detection systems to identify and penalize repeat offenders.

Smart Booking Strategies

The safest connecting flight approach focuses on legitimate extended layovers rather than rule-bending tactics. Book multi-city trips during your initial search rather than trying to modify tickets later. According to recent flight booking data from travel experts, the best tried and true method of getting low airfares is to travel to destinations at lower demand times when fewer people are clamoring to go to the same place.

Consider seasonal patterns when planning connecting flights. Winter routes to Europe often offer better connection opportunities through Middle Eastern hubs, while summer travelers find more options through Icelandic and Turkish connection points.

For families, connecting flights through airline hub cities often provide better overall value than budget carrier direct flights once you factor in baggage fees and seat selection costs. Plus, kids often appreciate the break from long flights that layovers provide. Many airlines offer priority boarding for families with young children, making connections smoother, while seniors can take advantage of extended layover programs that include complimentary airport assistance and priority rebooking if connections are missed.

Consider booking connecting flights with airline loyalty programs that offer family benefits, as many carriers provide free checked bags and seat upgrades for elite members traveling with children or grandchildren.

Connecting flights require more planning than direct routes, but they unlock travel opportunities that simply don’t exist with point-to-point flying. Whether you’re turning a London layover into a weekend in Iceland or using Istanbul as your gateway to both Europe and Asia, strategic connections transform necessary travel time into adventure time. The key lies in viewing those layovers not as inconveniences, but as gateways to experiences you never knew you wanted.