How do flight transfers work?

For most transfers, you don't have to pick up your checked baggage. Airport staff will ensure it gets onto your next flight, so you only have to pick it up at your final destination. If you're having a transfer in the United States or China, you probably do have to collect your luggage to check it in again.



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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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Do you have to go through security again for connecting flight? Yes, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights. It is recommended that travelers allow enough extra time before their connecting flight to pass through security and customs again.

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When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).

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If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.

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For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

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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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You will go through customs when exiting your destination airport, not when transiting. Usually, in Schengen airports, going through customs doesn't involve much. You may not even notice it. Just pass through a door under a green sign that says something to the tune of “nothing to declare.”

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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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  1. If your booking consists of more than one airline reservation code, a self-transfer may be required.
  2. This indicates that you are solely responsible for navigating your connections between flights.


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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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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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If you miss your connecting flight, the airline will usually transfer your checked luggage to the next available flight. However, it is important to contact the airline as soon as possible so they can make sure that your bags are on their way.

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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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If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight.

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If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.

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In a passenger context, MCT is defined as the shortest time interval required in order to transfer a passenger and his luggage from one flight to a connecting flight, in a specific location or metropolitan area.

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During domestic layovers, you are free to leave the airport. If your domestic layover is longer than one hour, you should expect to receive two boarding permits. If you want to check out local points of interest, make sure you get your second boarding pass and print it out before you leave.

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While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

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Same-day change lets you swap your flight on the day of travel for an earlier or later one—as long as there's an open seat and your origin and destination airports are the same.

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Factor in a minimum three-hour window when flying to high traffic airports or traveling during peak days or hours. It's also important to know if you have to exit your terminal, collect your bags, and go through security again. If so, it's best to add another hour cushion for self-transfer flights.

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