Minimum Connecting Time - How does it effect your flight (2023)

FAQs

What happens if you miss a connecting flight due to not enough time? ›

If you miss your connection due to a delay, usually the airline is responsible for providing you with a replacement flight to your destination. They will have to book you on the earliest possible flight available.

Two hours. Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.

Key Takeaways. If you miss your connecting flight due to a delay, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight without charging any fee, as long as the connecting flight is part of the same booking. If you are on two separate bookings, you may have to pay for the rebooking or find another flight yourself.

If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability. Some airlines, in fact, automatically rebook you.

The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

So yes, it can be done. However, you need to consider the nature of the connection. If it's from a domestic to an international flight, chances are, you have to switch terminals so you may have to go through security again.

yes, should be fine if u arrive on time. and your luggage too. i have done 40 min connections in some us airports eg. denver, without a hitch.

While, generally, the airline won't wait for connecting passengers, there might be some exceptions. If a flight is delayed, and there are many passengers who are connecting from this delayed flight onto the same connecting flight, the airline will hold the connecting flight for these passengers.

While flights have a scheduled departure time, there is an unwritten final-boarding rule. The gate agent will often close the door to the plane 10 minutes before departure, which, depending on what side of the door you're on, can either mean a huge sigh of relief or a delayed or even ruined trip.

If you miss a connection because of a plane swap and must stay overnight, you can request a hotel voucher and transportation to your accommodation. You can also ask for a refund of the unused portion of the ticket, but be aware that you'll have to find an alternative flight to your destination on your own.

Will my connecting flight wait if my first flight is delayed? ›

No, if your first flight is delayed and you won't make it in time to catch your connecting flight, the plane won't wait for you. However, if you're travelling on a through-ticket, the airline must rebook you on their next available flight to your destination, provided that there are seats available.

Travelers who are concerned they're not going to make their flight should immediately alert the airline. "If someone knows they will be missing the flight prior to departure, it's good policy (and manners) for that passenger to notify the airline," flight attendant Kelly Kincaid told Travel + Leisure.

Generally speaking, no. If you miss your flight and choose not to fly, you will not be refunded for the unused ticket. The only time that an airline will refund you is if they cancel your flight.

As a rule of thumb, on domestic routes, you need a minimum of 45 minutes between flights. That's because you don't have to go through security, customs, and immigration.

The ideal layover time for most people on a domestic flight will be 45-60 minutes. For an International to Domestic flight the ideal connection time will be about 90 minutes. Connecting in ATL is easy, fast, and pleasant. I'd recommend it to anyone.

If you miss your connection booked with the same airline that your were on for your first flight, and the issue is due to a delayed take off or anything else that's in the hands of your airline, it's the airline's responsibility to rebook you on the next available flight.

So yes, it can be done. However, you need to consider the nature of the connection. If it's from a domestic to an international flight, chances are, you have to switch terminals so you may have to go through security again.

I did it two weeks ago, we didn't even have time to hit the bathroom. So yes, it can be done. However, you need to consider the nature of the connection. If it's from a domestic to an international flight, chances are, you have to switch terminals so you may have to go through security again.

Always fly direct

That way if you are delayed, you don't need to worry about making your next flight. If you can't avoid connecting, don't book the shortest layover, because you'll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight. A one-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance.

Is 1 hour connection flight enough? ›

Yes, one hour is enough time for a layover when making a connecting flight in many airports. However, if you are flying from a destination known to have delays or flying international you may want to choose a flight that allows for more time.

So yes, it can be done. However, you need to consider the nature of the connection. If it's from a domestic to an international flight, chances are, you have to switch terminals so you may have to go through security again.

What is the difference between a layover and connecting flight? While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. A layover is the time you spend at the airport between two flights. A connecting flight is the next flight in your itinerary that you're waiting at the airport to take.

If the airline you are traveling has issued a ticket with 40 minutes connecting time, yes indeed that's sufficient. Different airports have different minimum connecting times or M C T. It's decided by looking at the infrastructure, distance between terminals and other things.

If you've booked on a single ticket, then the connecting procedure is super easy. There might be multiple flights, one after another, but they have been booked as one. After you've checked in your baggage, it will be passed between flights automatically, ready for you to pick-up when you land after your final flight.

For flights landing at U.S. airports, airlines are required to provide passengers with an opportunity to safely get off of the airplane before 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.

If you check in online in advance and don't have to check any luggage, you can be at the airport t 90 minutes for domestic flights. In general, most airlines recommend being at the airport at least two hours before departure.

Airports want you to take advantage of their incredible shopping and dining facilities, which you can't do if you're rushing to the gate. Also, they factor in the time it takes to find parking. Airlines, on the other hand, don't want you milling around the boarding area for too long.

Usually, airlines decide to bump those on an overbooked flight who have fewer privileges such as lower-fare tickets and late bookings. People who booked earlier or paid more for their ticket will usually get to stay on board.

Which airlines don t overbook? ›

JetBlue is the only airline in the country that never overbooks its flights -- and it still has to bump passengers sometimes.

To cancel a part of a connecting flight, you need to call the airline, find out if that's possible, and pay any required fees. If you still haven't bought the connecting ticket, it's usually cheaper to buy a direct flight.

As a rule of thumb, on domestic routes, you need a minimum of 45 minutes between flights. That's because you don't have to go through security, customs, and immigration.

45 minutes means you have to exit the plane, they remove the luggage, you travel to the new gate (which may be in a different terminal or at the far end of a very large terminal) etc etc in that time. This is if there are no delays or changes.

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

If you have an excessive layover time you may be wondering: Can I leave the airport between connecting flights? The short answer is yes. It is possible to exit and reenter the airport.

Recommended minimum connection times

Delta: 30-minute minimum connection time.

If you can't avoid connecting, don't book the shortest layover, because you'll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight. A 1-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance. In most cases, 3 hours is safe.

It's really hard to put an exact number on how long you need for your layover. At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers.

In general, if you are on board, they will hold for late passengers. If you are dashing for it, they won't hold it. Anybody who is persistently anxious about tight connections shouldn't ticket them.

Can I make a 30 minute layover in Atlanta? ›

What is the minimum layover for domestic flights in Atlanta? The short answer (based on my own personal experience) is that the minimum connection time for domestic flights in Atlanta is 35 minutes. It doesn't matter what terminal you arrive at and what terminal you're departing from. 35 minutes is doable.

If traveling on a domestic flight and not changing airlines, then 40 minutes should be enough time for a layover. If traveling internationally or changing airlines, then it is suggested to allow more time to connect.