How long of an international layover do you need?

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



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What is the recommended layover time for international flights? International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

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Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020.

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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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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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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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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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If you know you'll be traveling during a peak time, it's probably still a good idea to plan on the standard two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you're heading to the airport at a slower time of day, then you can consider arriving a little later.

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International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

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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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Dubai Airport transfers: Minimum Connection Time Below you can find the minimum time needed for connecting flights in Dubai International Airport. Between domestic flights: 20 min. Between domestic and international flights: 60 min. Between international flights: 60 min.

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Minimum connecting time recommended by EASY CDG* 60 minutes for connections within the same terminal. 90 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals.

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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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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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If you missed your flight due to traffic, the airline may label you as a no show and cancel your entire itinerary. This is why it is important to call ahead and see if you can be rebooked on another flight so that you can still fly. Chances are, you will need to pay the rebooking fee.

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You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening. This may include a physical inspection of your luggage and personal items with a metal detector or a full-body scan.

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International Connections
If your connecting flight is in Terminals 1, 2 or 3, you can take the free, 24-hour Airport Transit System (ATS). All connecting passengers must go through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening.

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If you're flying on separate tickets, yes you will have to collect your bags and re-check in. However, if you're flying on a single ticket your bags will be transferred directly to your connecting flight even if you're flying a different airline.

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Less than 60 minutes is always risky. Everything in your flight should go flawless for it to be enough but that's rarely the case. It depends a lot on the airline you're flying and also the airports you're flying to/from. If it's an international flight then give yourself at least 2 hours (and that's already tight).

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We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times: 1 hour for connections within the same Heathrow terminal. 1 hour 30 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals at Heathrow.

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