do airlines pay for hotel if long layover?

[msturtle143]

I've had long layovers to destinations in Asia and they always put us in a hotel when we arrive at 4 or 5am and layover is at least 10 hours.  I'm looking at a flight to Paris that has an 18 hour layover in Reykjavik. Will the airline put us in a hotel? The flight arrives at 6:45am there.

[frlcb]

What airlines have you had this on before? I have never heard of this, but an 18 hour long layover is also something I haven't heard of unless you choose to stay that long as a stopover.

[mdgirl]

If that's on Iceland Air they do those to allow people to spend one night there. They might have packages that include a hotel, but it won't just be part of the ticket price.

[msturtle143]

Dec 21, 2013 15:39:27 GMT -5 frlcb said:

What airlines have you had this on before? I have never heard of this, but an 18 hour long layover is also something I haven't heard of unless you choose to stay that long as a stopover.

Asiana

[msturtle143]

Dec 21, 2013 16:17:03 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Dec 21, 2013 15:28:28 GMT -5 msturtle143 said:

I've had long layovers to destinations in Asia and they always put us in a hotel when we arrive at 4 or 5am and layover is at least 10 hours.  I'm looking at a flight to Paris that has an 18 hour layover in Reykjavik. Will the airline put us in a hotel? The flight arrives at 6:45am there.

Iceland Air was the most disappointing international airline I've flown.  I would not expect them to provide a complimentary hotel unless (and this would only be a maybe) you're in business/first.  Otherwise, I would assume you're on your own. 

That's discouraging but good to know.

[msturtle143]

Dec 21, 2013 15:45:48 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

If that's on Iceland Air they do those to allow people to spend one night there. They might have packages that include a hotel, but it won't just be part of the ticket price.

It is on IA and looking on Expedia hotel + air package. I don't see where it says about accommodation during the long layover. It arrives in the morning so I wonder if they assume people are going to want to get out of the airport to look around? We'll have a 3 year old with us so we don't plan on doing so.

[sunshinedaydreams]

I've done this stopover on Iceland Air twice now, and no, they don't pay for a hotel. IMO, it's just a way to get people to stop over and spend more time/money in Iceland b/c it is way cheaper to fly IA through Reykjavik to Europe than it is to fly direct to/from Europe.

[frlcb]

Dec 21, 2013 16:18:34 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Dec 21, 2013 15:39:27 GMT -5 frlcb said:

What airlines have you had this on before? I have never heard of this, but an 18 hour long layover is also something I haven't heard of unless you choose to stay that long as a stopover.

Emirates will give you a hotel if your connection is over 8 hours, which is pretty much guaranteed if you're flying from Seattle / SFO / LAX to Dubai and continuing on to anywhere else.  They run some flights at really weird times (like 3:30 AM departures to the Maldives), but for our flight to Kenya we had a 19 hour layover and for our flight home, we would have had about the same because of the way their US-bound flight timing works.

I am not surprised Emirates does, or other international carriers. A US carrier would not do this. And I agree with the pp that said Iceland Air is disappointing, and they would assume you want the time to see the city, that is sort of their draw of flying with them to Europe.

[emilyinchile]

This is very much the exception rather than the rule.

[msturtle143]

I like the idea of flying into Iceland because from the west coast it's only about 7 hours which is preferable over 10 hours straight. I feel like with a toddler it's better to break up the flight that way but the idea of having to go through the whole boarding thing twice plus finding a hotel sounds like a pain too. What would you suggest? Book a different flight? DD does not do well sitting in one place for any given period of time. I don't mind giving her games and movies for distraction but having experienced a 6 hour flight to Hawaii early this year, those can only hold her entertained for so long before she's up jumping around us. She will be a few days away from turning 3 by the time we go and I'm just hoping she'll be more directable and less all over the place by then. Oi..

any moms with toddlers chime in on handling these little ones on long flights?

[frlcb]

We do long flights with our kids several times a year (9-10 hours) and have since they were born. I would, hands down, take a direct 10 hour flight than a 7 hour flight, 18 hour layover, then 3 hours. I also think traveling with a 3 year old is worlds different than a 2 year old, at 2 they aren't super into tv/movies/games, but by 3 they generally are more. Plus it is an overnight flight flying out right? That should help since she will sleep.

[anna7602]

I'm with frlcb. I've done long flights with DD before. Longest was about 13 hours to Argentina, when DD was just shy of turning 3. It was fine. I'd much rather just get it all over with than deal with long layovers.

[Wanderista]

I'm glad to hear about the long layovers to see Iceland as I have never been but fly directly to Europe with some frequency. I have no opinions on traveling with kids as I haven't any. I am also glad to hear that hotels are provided on some longer flights around the world. I've never flown that type of airline.

I did get a comped hotel from Northwest several years ago due to unexpected delays on an afternoon flight. They were actually really generous and gave me a hotel room near the airport that had a shuttle service, money for both dinner and breakfast as well as a complimentary snack basket on the actual flight.

[msturtle143]

Dec 23, 2013 11:26:04 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I'm glad to hear about the long layovers to see Iceland as I have never been but fly directly to Europe with some frequency. I have no opinions on traveling with kids as I haven't any. I am also glad to hear that hotels are provided on some longer flights around the world. I've never flown that type of airline.

I did get a comped hotel from Northwest several years ago due to unexpected delays on an afternoon flight. They were actually really generous and gave me a hotel room near the airport that had a shuttle service, money for both dinner and breakfast as well as a complimentary snack basket on the actual flight.

Asiana did this several times we flew to Asia so I'm a big fan of them.

[Wanderista]

Dec 23, 2013 11:49:01 GMT -5 msturtle143 said:

Dec 23, 2013 11:26:04 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I'm glad to hear about the long layovers to see Iceland as I have never been but fly directly to Europe with some frequency. I have no opinions on traveling with kids as I haven't any. I am also glad to hear that hotels are provided on some longer flights around the world. I've never flown that type of airline.

I did get a comped hotel from Northwest several years ago due to unexpected delays on an afternoon flight. They were actually really generous and gave me a hotel room near the airport that had a shuttle service, money for both dinner and breakfast as well as a complimentary snack basket on the actual flight.

Asiana did this several times we flew to Asia so I'm a big fan of them.

That's great to hear and when I think about it - I've actually been treated well by several US airlines and I've heard of friends being treated well too. Like, getting generous vouchers. The only US airline that I personally have flown that I actively dislike is United. Most US airlines I've flown have been great about delays. I know that's not quite the subject of this thread. But yeah, this will make me think about layovers a little differently.

[emilyinchile]

Dec 23, 2013 11:26:04 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I did get a comped hotel from Northwest several years ago due to unexpected delays on an afternoon flight. They were actually really generous and gave me a hotel room near the airport that had a shuttle service, money for both dinner and breakfast as well as a complimentary snack basket on the actual flight.

Aside from the snack basket, this is what airlines are supposed to do, so I have to disagree that it was generous of them

[bullygirl979]

Dec 21, 2013 17:11:43 GMT -5 @mx said:

I know that both Turkish and Ethiopian do. But it definitely varies.

I just flew Turkish air and had a 16 hour long layover. I did not get a hotel room paid for.

[jennybee1018]

I know that Qatar Airways pays for a hotel for long layovers - as long as there are no other options for you to leave sooner (if that makes sense). My sister arrived from the Maldives to Doha at 10:30 at night, and had a 8 AM flight, and they paid for their hotel room.

www.qatarairways.com/qa/en/transit-accommodation.page

[GilliC]

Dec 23, 2013 18:30:26 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

Dec 23, 2013 11:26:04 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I did get a comped hotel from Northwest several years ago due to unexpected delays on an afternoon flight. They were actually really generous and gave me a hotel room near the airport that had a shuttle service, money for both dinner and breakfast as well as a complimentary snack basket on the actual flight.

Aside from the snack basket, this is what airlines are supposed to do, so I have to disagree that it was generous of them

Or required to do in places that actually have a passenger bill of rights!

[Susie]

I'm pretty sure the long layover thing on IA is a ploy to get people to spend $ at the Blue Lagoon. The airport isn't actually all that close to Reykjavik (it's about 2x as far as the Blue Lagoon), so unless you WANT to spend a day at the Blue Lagoon I would find a direct flight.

[msturtle143]

Dec 27, 2013 12:19:56 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm pretty sure the long layover thing on IA is a ploy to get people to spend $ at the Blue Lagoon. The airport isn't actually all that close to Reykjavik (it's about 2x as far as the Blue Lagoon), so unless you WANT to spend a day at the Blue Lagoon I would find a direct flight.

Which actually crossed my mind and think it might be nice. I've read different opinions on taking a toddler but overall seems okay. We might consider a tour and a hotel if we all get tired before the next leg of the trip and want to nap.

[frlcb]

Dec 27, 2013 14:38:28 GMT -5 msturtle143 said:

Dec 27, 2013 12:19:56 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm pretty sure the long layover thing on IA is a ploy to get people to spend $ at the Blue Lagoon. The airport isn't actually all that close to Reykjavik (it's about 2x as far as the Blue Lagoon), so unless you WANT to spend a day at the Blue Lagoon I would find a direct flight.

Which actually crossed my mind and think it might be nice. I've read different opinions on taking a toddler but overall seems okay. We might consider a tour and a hotel if we all get tired before the next leg of the trip and want to nap.

I wouldn't take a 2-3 year old to the Blue Lagoon, personally. And if you have to switch off who goes in then it kind of defeats the purpose.

[Deleted]

Direct flight, hands down, wouldn't a portion be overnight sp you could get some sleep?

[Shreddingbetty]

Dec 21, 2013 15:28:28 GMT -5 msturtle143 said:

I've had long layovers to destinations in Asia and they always put us in a hotel when we arrive at 4 or 5am and layover is at least 10 hours.  I'm looking at a flight to Paris that has an 18 hour layover in Reykjavik. Will the airline put us in a hotel? The flight arrives at 6:45am there.

Plus even if they were to put you up it is not like you could check in that early anyway unless you are willing to pay for 2 nights. We've flown into Paris twice and stayed at a hotel on arrival but check in wouldn't be until 2 or 3 (usually we drive to my parents house right away)

We've been flying to Europe with DD since she was 4 months old. We usually have a really early flight to the east coast or Chicago, then a 5 or 6 hour layover and then a 8-9 hour flight to Europe. So fa we have not had any problems with her traveling. She didn't really become interested in watching the iPad (for more than 10 minutes) until about 2.5 and at that point she would also tolerate the headphones we got her for much longer.  She mostly watches iPad, plays with stickers and naps (and has the dinner and breakfast ) But she also isn't a real wiggle worm wanting to get out and explore. 

I would do a direct flight. It really isn't that bad and presumably your LO will sleep probably at least about half of that time.  

[Deleted]

Shreddingbetty has a really good point that you probably wouldn't be able to check into a hotel.

Totally not worth it to stopover, IME. Just do the direct flight.
Personally, I avoid stopovers at all cost when travelling with a kid, even if it means i pay extra.