How long can an international layover be?

At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers. But this is not a hard, fast rule! If you have to go through security again on a domestic layover, you might need more time.



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Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed.

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A layover is a connection that lasts no longer than 4 hours for domestic flights and no longer than 24 hours for International flights. Layovers are fairly common, especially overnight layovers, but usually they aren't long enough to benefit you.

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So how do you know how much time to leave for connecting flights when you have booked with two separate airlines? The rule of thumb is that you leave AT LEAST 3 hours from arrival to departure for international flights and 1.5 hours for domestic.

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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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How long does a layover need to be to leave the airport? Because layovers are your choice, you can leave whenever you like, but seasoned travelers, including McGee, seldom leave airports for less than six hours. After all, airports themselves aren't usually in bustling, interesting areas.

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What to do during a long layover
  • Escape the airport on your own to explore the city.
  • Take an organized tour of the city.
  • Book yourself into a transfer hotel.
  • Try out the local cuisine.
  • Indulge in the comfort food you've been avoiding.
  • Take a shower.
  • Phone a friend.
  • Find a meditation room.


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Is skiplagging illegal? No, but it's against most airlines' contracts of carriage or the rules people must follow to fly with the airline. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both put skiplagging first on their lists of prohibited booking practices.

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But occasionally when the layover is really long, the airline won't be able to tag it to your final destination. Usually this happens when the second flight leaves more than 24 hours after the first flight, but no matter what, you should confirm how the airline is handling your checked bags.

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In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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International layovers typically involve going through customs and border protection, whereas domestic ones don't. For domestic layovers, it's a good idea to give yourself at least an hour to ensure you can catch your next flight.

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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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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.

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Consider On-Site Hotels and Sleep Pods It's not uncommon to find popular chains such as Hilton, Sheraton and Hyatt inside airports around the world. In some cases, inside means the hotel is actually inside the terminal, bypassing the inconvenience of going through customs and/or security.

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In many airports, the answer is yes. However, there are airports that close at night and other airports that simply do not permit/like airport sleepers and are openly hostile. We suggest you visit the airport guide for the airport you are inquiring about.

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If your layover exceeds a certain length (typically between 8 to 12 hours), Go Ahead will book and cover the cost of a hotel room for you to relax or sleep in for the full duration of your connection while you wait for your next flight. We refer to these as dayrooms and overnight layovers.

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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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How long does a layover need to be to leave the airport? Because layovers are your choice, you can leave whenever you like, but seasoned travelers, including McGee, seldom leave airports for less than six hours. After all, airports themselves aren't usually in bustling, interesting areas.

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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.

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You might have to go through customs during a layover, especially if your layover is in the Schengen Area (which consists of most countries in the EU). For example, if your final destination is Paris, France, but you have a layover in Madrid, Spain, you will actually go through customs in Spain, not France.

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