If you’ve ever had a long layover — 8 hours or more — you know how rough it can be waiting around the airport. Luckily, some airlines offer complimentary transit hotels, meals, and even transportation when your connecting time is long and no shorter flights are available.

This kind of benefit is often called STPC (Stopover / Stopover Paid by Carrier) or a Transit Hotel Program. It’s not universal, and not all tickets/fare classes qualify (award tickets often don’t), but if you do meet the conditions, it can turn a long wait into a comfortable break or even a mini-exploration of the city you’re passing through.

✈️ Top Airlines That Often Provide Free Transit Hotels / Meals

🇶🇦 Qatar Airways (Doha)

One of the most well-known programs:

  • Free hotel stay for layovers of about 8–24 hours if no shorter connection is available.
  • Includes hotel, airport transfers, and a transit visa if needed.
  • Some meal vouchers may also be included for longer waits.
  • Eligibility varies by fare class and ticket conditions.

👉 Note: You usually have to request this through Qatar’s “Transit Accommodation” / STPC service before travel, or at the transfer desk on arrival.

🇦🇪 Emirates – Dubai Connect

One of the more generous stopover services:

  • Dubai Connect applies when your best available connection is 8–24 hours (6 hours for Business/First Class).
  • Includes hotel, meals, transfers, and visa assistance.
  • The service is automatically offered if eligible and can be booked through “Manage Booking.

🇪🇹 Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa)

A great option if flying through Africa:

  • Layovers of 8–24 hours often include a free hotel night at the Skylight Hotel.
  • You may also get meals, transit visas, and transfers included.
  • Vouchers can be given at check-in or at the transit desk on arrival.

🇯🇴 Royal Jordanian (Amman)

If your ticket meets the rules:

  • Transit layovers of 8+ hours can qualify for free hotel, meals, and transfers.
  • Valid for certain fare classes and when the connection is the shortest available

🇱🇰 SriLankan Airlines (Colombo)

  • 8–24 hour layovers may qualify for free hotel and meal vouchers.
  • Some minimum fare requirements usually apply, and you may need to contact SriLankan in advance.

🇨🇳 China Southern & Hainan Airlines (Various Chinese Hubs)

These carriers often offer transit hotel services in cities like:

  • Guangzhou, Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc.
  • Policies vary by city and ticket type, but they can include hotel rooms, and sometimes meals and airport shuttles.

🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines (Istanbul)

Turkish also offers transit hotel if you meet criteria:

  • Layovers of 12+ hours (or 9+ in business class) may qualify for complimentary hotel.
  • You typically claim this at the airport’s hotel desk after arrival.

🏨 EgyptAir Transit Hotel & Layover Service

EgyptAir has a “Transit Accommodation (Layover Service)” which can include:
✅ Hotel accommodation (typically for up to 24 hours)
✅ Meals
✅ Ground transportation (to/from hotel)
…when you have a long stopover in Cairo (CAI) as part of one ticket.

⏱️ Basic Eligibility Rules

To qualify for the free hotel service:

  • Your connecting flight time must be long — generally:
    • ≥ 8 hours for economy class
    • ≥ 6 hours for business class
  • You must be arriving on the last available flight and departing on the first available connecting flight — in other words, the itinerary must naturally require the long layover and there must be no shorter connection available.
  • The service is only for international flights that are part of the same EgyptAir ticket.
  • It doesn’t apply if you hold two separate tickets or certain heavily discounted fares.

So if you’re flying with EgyptAir and your ticket includes a long connection in Cairo that meets those conditions, you may be offered a free hotel room and meals.

🛂 Transit Visas

EgyptAir also supports a free 96-hour transit visa for many nationalities, which allows you to leave the airport during your stopover — even if it’s quite long (up to 4 days).
This visa is usually obtained at the EgyptAir transit office at Cairo Airport.

✔️ Real Traveler Experiences

  • Many passengers report getting their hotel voucher at a transfer/assistance desk after arrival rather than booking it in advance.
  • The hotel is often one near the airport (e.g., Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar), with transportation arranged by the airline.
  • However, some traveler’s note that because availability and staff decisions vary, it’s not always guaranteed — it depends on staff at the immigration/transfer desk.

⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind

  • The free hotel service is not widely advertised and isn’t as formalised as programs like Emirates Dubai Connect or Qatar Airways Transit Hotel — meaning eligibility and availability can vary.
  • If you don’t qualify for the airline-provided hotel, you can still:
    • Use the free transit visa (if eligible) and book your own hotel in Cairo, or
    • Stay airside and use airport facilities until your next flight.

📝 Important Things to Know Before You Book

✅ Eligibility depends on your fare type: Economy Saver & award tickets often don’t qualify.
✅ Shorter flights available: If there is a shorter connection, the airline usually won’t provide the hotel.
✅ Some require advance requests: Especially Qatar and Emirates.
✅ Visa requirements: To leave the airport for a hotel, you may need a visa or be eligible for visa-free entry.

🧳 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Free Transit Hotels

🌟 Book or request early — some airlines ask for arrangements at least 48–72 hours before departure.
🌟 Check eligibility rules carefully — some benefits are limited to non-promotional fares.
🌟 Ask at the transit desk if you didn’t arrange it before departure — you might still be eligible.
🌟 Plan your arrival — knowing whether you need a transit visa helps avoid surprises.

Airlines offering free hotel stays and sometimes meals during long layovers are a traveler’s hidden gem — especially for long intercontinental trips. While rules vary and you often must meet specific conditions (ticket type, no earlier connections, etc.), it can be a great way to see an extra city or simply rest comfortably instead of spending hours inside an airport.