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.

The "safe" amount of time for a connection depends heavily on the airport and whether you are traveling domestically or internationally. For domestic-to-domestic connections on the same airline, 1 hour is usually the minimum, though 90 minutes provides a much-needed buffer for delays. For international-to-domestic connections in the U.S. (where you must clear Customs and Re-check bags), you should allow at least 3 hours. In large, complex hubs like London Heathrow, Paris CDG, or Chicago O'Hare, the distance between terminals alone can take 30 minutes, so a 2-hour window is recommended for any transfer. If you are booking "separate" tickets (self-transfer), you should allow at least 4 to 5 hours to account for the risk of the first flight being delayed, as the second airline is not obligated to rebook you for free. In 2026, with higher passenger volumes, "cutting it close" with a 45-minute layover is a high-risk gamble that often ends with a sprint to the gate or a missed flight.