How long should you book between connecting 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 "safe" window for connecting flights is at least 60–90 minutes for domestic transfers and 2.5–3 hours for international connections. While airlines often sell "legal" connections as short as 30 or 45 minutes, these leave zero margin for error regarding minor flight delays, long walks between terminals, or the slow process of deplaning. For international travel, the longer window is critical because you must often clear Immigration and Customs at your first point of entry before re-clearing security for your next flight. If you are traveling on separate tickets (booking two different airlines independently), you should increase this buffer to at least 4–5 hours, as you will need to collect your checked bags and re-check them at the departures counter. A 2026 "pro-tip" is to check the "Minimum Connection Time" (MCT) for your specific hub; airports like Heathrow or JFK often require significantly more time for terminal transfers than smaller, regional hubs.

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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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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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As a rule of thumb, on domestic routes, you need a minimum of 45 minutes between flights. That's because you don't have to go through security, customs, and immigration.

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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 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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Overall, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights, though there may be some exceptions depending on the airport and flight itinerary. To make this process easier, checking with the airline or airport ahead of time is recommended.

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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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No matter what airline you're flying, if you have a connecting flight that arrives in the United States from an international destination, you'll need to pick up your bags and recheck them on your next flight.

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Depending on the airline, travelers may be charged a rebooking fee to get on another flight. Some airlines may also charge the difference in airfare — meaning a missed flight can be a costly inconvenience.

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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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To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B. Sometimes there will be more than a single stop.

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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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Sometimes it is worth using a set of flights with a longer connection time to offset any issues that may occur. Flight delays, change of arrival gate, slow getting off the aircraft, long security queues can all be factors that can slow down the process of getting to the next departure gate.

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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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Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover, provided your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you're in, and you have enough time between flights. In fact, some people intentionally book flights with longer layovers (which are often cheaper) so they get to see a new city.

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Skipping a connecting flight is generally not illegal, but it can have consequences. Airlines have rules that require passengers to follow the entire itinerary they've booked. If you skip a connecting flight, your remaining flights might be canceled, and you might not be eligible for a refund.

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If there's a flight delay and you miss your connecting flight, the marketing airline is responsible for booking you into the next available flight for free. It's the airline you've bought your flight from. You should contact the airline you made the booking from.

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