Why You Should Add a Stopover to Your Next Long Haul Flight

Let's face it, most travellers see layovers as time to kill. Hours stuck in uncomfortable seats, overpriced food, and staring at the departure board on repeat. But done properly, long layovers can work in your favour. An 8 to 10 hour + connection gives your body time to reset. You can move, stretch, eat real food, and step out of travel mode instead of squeezing everything into one exhausting haul.

They also add experience to your trip. Instead of just passing through an airport, you get a window into a new city. A local meal, a walk through real streets, and a taste of somewhere you might never have planned to visit. Longer layovers also reduce stress. Delays happen, and having breathing room means fewer sprints between gates and less anxiety about missed connections.

If it is not clear by now, this is me telling you to intentionally build time into your layovers. Aim for a minimum of 8 to 10 hours, or even overnight when it makes sense.

Top Layover Hubs: Europe, Middle East & Asia

From the UK, a large amount of long haul travel into Southeast Asia runs through hub airlines rather than direct routes. Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad move a huge share of passengers by routing flights through Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi before continuing east. These hubs are now the backbone of UK to Asia travel.

Qatar Airways is one of the most common choices. Flights from London usually connect through Doha before continuing to Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Pricing is often competitive and connections are longer by default, which works well if you want time to rest or leave the airport rather than rush through transit.

Etihad follows a similar model through Abu Dhabi. Their network is slightly smaller, but they still offer strong coverage into Asia with sensible flight timings and pricing that often undercuts European carriers. For many travellers, Etihad provides one of the most relaxed connection experiences.

Another airline worth paying attention to is China Eastern. They operate routes from the UK into major Chinese hubs like Shanghai, with onward flights into Southeast Asia. These tickets are often cheaper than Middle Eastern or European carriers and naturally come with longer connections. If you are comfortable transiting or briefly entering China, this can be one of the best options for same day layovers that allow rest or short city exploration.

British Airways and Singapore Airlines still matter, especially for travellers chasing direct flights. But in terms of availability, frequency and cost, hub airlines through the Middle East and China now dominate UK to Southeast Asia routes.

If you plan around this, it works in your favour. These routings are often cheaper than nonstop flights and give you enough time to eat properly, slow down or explore a new city instead of spending hours stuck inside a terminal. You can read solo traveller Fabiana's Beijing stopover where she enjoys the Great Wall of China for free.

If you want a deeper example of this style of travel, I recommend reading my blog Slow Travel: How Its REALLY Done. It breaks down a three day journey from the UK to Thailand via Rome and South Korea, with prices, routes and practical steps to turn long connections into real experiences.