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.

A 2-hour layover for a traveler arriving in the U.S. from an international destination is generally considered "at-risk" and may not be sufficient in 2026. When you land at a major U.S. hub (like JFK, LAX, or ORD) from abroad, you must first clear Immigration (CBP), then collect your checked baggage, clear Customs, re-check your bags, and finally pass through TSA security again to reach your domestic gate. If the airport is busy or if several large international flights arrive at once, the immigration lines alone can easily take over an hour. While those with Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control can significantly speed up the process, a standard traveler could easily miss their connection if there are any minor delays. Most travel experts and airline staff recommend a minimum of 3 hours for an international-to-domestic connection. The only major exception is if you are flying from a US Preclearance airport (such as Dublin, Toronto, or Nassau), where you clear customs before you board your flight; in that case, you arrive as a domestic passenger, and a 2-hour layover is more than enough time to reach your next gate.