How do connecting flights work internationally?

If you have booked international connecting flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. This is particularly true of the United States and Canada.



International connecting flights in 2026 are governed by whether your journey is on a "single ticket" (codeshare) or "self-transferred." On a single ticket, your checked baggage is typically tagged to your final destination, and you will not see it during your layover. If you are transiting through a major hub like London, Dubai, or Singapore, you often remain in the "International Transit" zone, meaning you do not pass through local customs or immigration. However, if your connection is in the United States or India (under 2026 rules), you must usually collect your bags, clear customs, and re-check them, even if you are just passing through to another country. In 2026, "Advanced Passenger Information Systems" (APIS) and digital customs declarations (like India's ICEGATE or the US Mobile Passport Control) are used to pre-clear travelers during their first flight leg, significantly reducing the "waiting time" at the transit desk between gates.

People Also Ask

Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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Why international travelers must collect and recheck bags for their U.S. connecting flight. The foremost reason fo rechecking your bag after an international flight is security. “It's part of our efforts to protect the country,” Tammy Melvin, a CBP public affairs spokesperson, told AFAR.

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In most cases, you'll receive your boarding pass for your connecting flight already when you check in for your first flight. This means you don't have to check in again for your next flight. If you haven't received it, you can go to the transfer desk or kiosk of the airline you're flying with to collect it.

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What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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When checking in your luggage in most cases it will be checked through to your last stop. When arriving at the connecting airport all you have to do is to go to your next gate and wait for the next plane, your next flight. There might be a security check in the terminal at the connecting airport.

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When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

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Airlines will transfer your checked bags if a codeshare or interline agreement exists between them. You can find out what agreements your airline has by visiting their website.

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Continue into the International Departures area. Your checked baggage will be delivered to your final destination and will automatically be transferred by Air Canada during each connection, unless advised otherwise at check-in.

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Leaving the airport during an international layover is possible but can be more complicated. Depending on the layover country, layover flight rules may require you to secure a visa before being allowed to venture out of the airport.

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Yes, there might be exceptions, but most often than not the airline won't wait. What you can do is to try to avoid missing your connection. But if you do miss your connection, don't worry, the airline will book you on a new flight for free (if it's an airline-protected connecting flight).

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Arriving international connecting to International: Upon arrival, check with your airline for directions to get to your connecting flight. Please note, you may be subject to additional security screening before accessing the gate area for your connecting flight.

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A direct flight is identified by a unique flight number. A transit flight, with a connection, has two distinct flight numbers. A flight that is not direct, or connecting flight, involves a change of aircraft.

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Arrive to airport 2-3 hours before the flight, and check in there. Go to the check-in desk of the first airline you are flying with. They will give you all boarding passes for connecting flights.

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It depends on how your ticket was booked. If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.

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What happens to the baggage during a stopover? As a rule, you do not have to worry about anything in this case. The luggage will arrive at your destination even in case of unscheduled flight cancellations or rebooking due to a missed connecting flight.

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However, the only time you have to get your checked bag and re-check it is when you have to go through customs and you have a connecting flight. You go through customs in the first country you land in.

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What happens if a flight is delayed and you miss your connection? 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.

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Upon arrival in Canada, you will need to clear customs. Collect all of your baggage. If connecting to another Canadian destination, drop off your baggage at the “Connecting Flight” baggage drop area on the Departures level. Proceed through security and to the gate for your connecting Porter flight.

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Also known as point beyond ticketing, hidden city ticketing is a way to find cheaper nonstop tickets by booking a connecting flight to a final destination beyond yours, but ending your journey at a layover point.

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