Taking advantage of layovers in international trips? - Travel, Leisure & Vacations

Marley · 08-07-2009, 12:39 AM

If you book a flight from a US airport to international destination A in Africa via international destination B in Europe, is it possible to do a layover at destination B? i.e. Rather than take a 17 hour flight with less than 1 hour layover, I want to take the flight with the longest layover possible (2 days). Do they allow you to get your luggage and get out during the layover?

Marley · 08-07-2009, 12:53 AM

ing up for the international crowd in different zones.

my.hero's.mrs · 08-07-2009, 05:01 AM

I believe that if you wanted to have a long layover like that, you need to look into booking multi-segment tickets. You'd have destination B and C with C being Europe and B being Africa. In that case, you would pick up your luggage, go through customs and then you'd go through customs again once you reached Europe depending on the customs agreements between the 2 destinations. Make sense?

Marley · 08-07-2009, 08:03 AM

Ooooh! Gotcha. I will call the airlines and see. I am going to Kenya and there is a stop over in Amsterdam and I'd love to get out and spend a day or two there. Thanks.

peeps26001 · 08-07-2009, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by my.hero's.mrs

I believe that if you wanted to have a long layover like that, you need to look into booking multi-segment tickets. You'd have destination B and C with C being Europe and B being Africa. In that case, you would pick up your luggage, go through customs and then you'd go through customs again once you reached Europe depending on the customs agreements between the 2 destinations. Make sense?

This would be the only way I'd know how to also.

What are you going to Kenya for? Africa is amazing, you're gonna love it!

BubMunkeyBles · 08-09-2009, 10:25 AM

Depends, a lot of international flights you have to pick up and recheck your bags anyways, I would think this would definitely be the case for this circumstance. OTHERWISE I would say bring a carryon with what you need. We stopped in London for 3 days on our way to Azerbaijan back when I was in high school.

eelo · 08-09-2009, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Marley

Ooooh! Gotcha. I will call the airlines and see. I am going to Kenya and there is a stop over in Amsterdam and I'd love to get out and spend a day or two there. Thanks.

I think the airlines differentiate between a layover (hours) and a stopover (days). However- one time when I flew with Delta, they said that they offered military travelers "free stopovers," which was very cool. I got to spend three days in Chicago on both ends of a Tokyo-West Palm Beach trip.

Having said that, some of the travel channels/sites offer little guides for "things to do in ___________ on extended layover."

Tamzyn · 08-10-2009, 07:31 AM

Hmmm .. let me guess ... if your going to Kenya with a stop over in Amsterdam, your flying with KLM??!! Both places are beautiful! I didn't spend that long in Kenya (I was on my way to Tanzania) but it is an amazing place. Your so lucky!!! I was in a similar situation when I was about to book a flight to Vietnam. There was a stop over in Tiawan and I wanted to stay a few days. I then searched US - Tiawan, Tiawan - Vietnam and Vietnam - USA on a multi city option. Turned out it was the same price, so sometimes it can be done!

Diamond · 08-16-2009, 11:05 AM

For pure convience ~ I would make sure what I needed for the layover was in a carry on bag.

I've travel to Africia via a layover in Europe. It was much easier to only have your carry-on to exit customs then re-enter.

Check with your airline to see if this is allowed or if extra fees are involved.

Kenya is nice ~ what takes you there? How long will you be there?

RayK · 08-16-2009, 11:32 AM

I agree with the other ladies. and I'm really jealous...Kenya is beautiful!

08-07-2009, 12:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marley Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North East Posts: 3,840 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 22% Longevity: 16%	Taking advantage of layovers in international trips? If you book a flight from a US airport to international destination A in Africa via international destination B in Europe, is it possible to do a layover at destination B? i.e. Rather than take a 17 hour flight with less than 1 hour layover, I want to take the flight with the longest layover possible (2 days). Do they allow you to get your luggage and get out during the layover? __________________

08-07-2009, 12:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Marley Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North East Posts: 3,840 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 22% Longevity: 16%	ing up for the international crowd in different zones. __________________

08-07-2009, 05:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
my.hero's.mrs Not even the Army can shatter my spirit. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 12,079 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 35% Longevity: 29%	I believe that if you wanted to have a long layover like that, you need to look into booking multi-segment tickets. You'd have destination B and C with C being Europe and B being Africa. In that case, you would pick up your luggage, go through customs and then you'd go through customs again once you reached Europe depending on the customs agreements between the 2 destinations. Make sense? __________________

08-07-2009, 08:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Marley Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North East Posts: 3,840 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 22% Longevity: 16%	Ooooh! Gotcha. I will call the airlines and see. I am going to Kenya and there is a stop over in Amsterdam and I'd love to get out and spend a day or two there. Thanks. __________________

08-09-2009, 10:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
BubMunkeyBles MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Me- Tampa, FL, DH- Aviano AB Italy Posts: 6,550 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 82% Longevity: 29%	Depends, a lot of international flights you have to pick up and recheck your bags anyways, I would think this would definitely be the case for this circumstance. OTHERWISE I would say bring a carryon with what you need. We stopped in London for 3 days on our way to Azerbaijan back when I was in high school. __________________ Stephanie

About Us

MilitarySOS Shortcuts

MilitarySOS Help

About MilitarySOS

08-10-2009, 07:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tamzyn Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Davis-Monthan, Tucson Posts: 543 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 21% Longevity: 19%	Hmmm .. let me guess ... if your going to Kenya with a stop over in Amsterdam, your flying with KLM??!! Both places are beautiful! I didn't spend that long in Kenya (I was on my way to Tanzania) but it is an amazing place. Your so lucky!!! I was in a similar situation when I was about to book a flight to Vietnam. There was a stop over in Tiawan and I wanted to stay a few days. I then searched US - Tiawan, Tiawan - Vietnam and Vietnam - USA on a multi city option. Turned out it was the same price, so sometimes it can be done!

08-16-2009, 11:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
Diamond PRETZEL Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 3121 Posts: 2,373 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 62%	For pure convience ~ I would make sure what I needed for the layover was in a carry on bag. I've travel to Africia via a layover in Europe. It was much easier to only have your carry-on to exit customs then re-enter. Check with your airline to see if this is allowed or if extra fees are involved. Kenya is nice ~ what takes you there? How long will you be there? __________________

08-16-2009, 11:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
RayK Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 546 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 10% Longevity: 17%	I agree with the other ladies. and I'm really jealous...Kenya is beautiful! __________________ "Anyone who has a continuous smile on their face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening."