How long do you need to transfer between flights?

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.



In 2026, the "Minimum Connection Time" (MCT) depends on the airport and whether you are moving between domestic or international terminals. For a Domestic-to-Domestic transfer in a medium-sized airport, 45 to 60 minutes is usually sufficient. However, for an International-to-Domestic transfer in the U.S., you should allow at least 2 to 3 hours. This is because you must clear immigration, collect your bags to clear customs, and then re-check your luggage and clear TSA security again. Major global hubs like London Heathrow or Dubai recommend at least 90 minutes even for international-to-international transfers due to the sheer physical size of the terminals and the need for security re-screening. For a 2026 traveler, the "safe" rule of thumb is to aim for a 2-hour window for any connection. This provides a vital buffer for minor flight delays, long lines at the gate, or the "marathon" walk between distant terminals, ensuring you don't spend your layover in a state of high-stress panic or end up stranded for the night.

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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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The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.

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If your connecting flight leaves from a notoriously busy airport, it may be necessary to arrange a layover that's at least three hours long. The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour.

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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.

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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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For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

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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.

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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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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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In this case, self transfer meaning that no airline is responsible for this whole journey -- you are transiting yourself, and take full responsibility for that. You check in for every flight yourself. You recheck baggage yourself. If you miss one of your flights for whatever reason, you pay for new flight yourself.

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For domestic connections within countries like the USA or Canada, a general rule of thumb is to have at least a 60-minute layover. However, at large airports like Atlanta or Toronto, you might want to consider longer connection times to account for the airport layout and possible security checks.

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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.

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Is 40 minutes enough time for a layover in Philadelphia? That depends if you are domestic and just switching planes and using the same carrier, and it is in the same terminal yes. you wont have any time to do anything but go straight to your gate.

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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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Generally speaking, most airlines will make some kind of efforts to wait for delayed passengers on a connecting flight, though this is not necessarily guaranteed. In some cases, airlines may be able to hold a connecting flight for a period of time, but it is not something that is typically guaranteed by any airline.

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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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If it is not tagged to your next or final destination, then you will definitely need to pick up your bags and check them in for your next flight.

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Allowing yourself at least a 60-minute layover for domestic flights and a two-hour layover time for international flights can often be a much more comfortable and stress-free journey than booking a flight with a very tight connection.

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Making your connection in an hour depends on the airport and the distance between your arrival gate and the departure gate as well as whether the flight is international or domestic. Also, if you are on a full flight and sitting at the back of the plane, it could take you 5 - 10 minutes just to deplane.

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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.

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