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What is the maximum time between connecting flights?

The IATA fare rules for maximum connection time are max of 4 hours for domestic flights and 24 hours for international flights. The rule for international fares can be extended to the next scheduled flight or set of connecting flights to the final destination.



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Most airlines define a layover as any connection of less than 4 hours on a domestic flight or less than 24 hours on an international flight. Rules about when stopovers are allowed varies by airline, and it will often depend on whether the ticket is an award ticket or a paid ticket.

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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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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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It's really hard to put an exact number on how long you need for your layover. At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers. But this is not a hard, fast rule! If you have to go through security again on a domestic layover, you might need more time.

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3 Hours or More
3 hours isn't too long to wait around for your flight to arrive. But, you are definitely going to want something to do to kill the time. Start with turning on all your electronic devices to see if any need a recharge.

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Two hours. Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.

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Yes, a security check is mandatory when you take a connecting flight. This is because there is a time lag between getting off one aeroplane and getting on-board another to reach your destination.

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During domestic layovers, you are free to leave the airport. If your domestic layover is longer than one hour, you should expect to receive two boarding permits. If you want to check out local points of interest, make sure you get your second boarding pass and print it out before you leave.

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You can have an extended layover on a one stop-flight, it is going to cost you. There are some airlines that allow an extended layover on a round-trip ticket that requires a one-stop each way. On one-way tickets, with a stopover is not as common.

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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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If you have a layover and both flights are part of the same itinerary and booked on a single ticket, you typically do not need to check in again. Your checked baggage is usually tagged through to your final destination, and you would proceed directly to your connecting gate after going through security.

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Airlines have their own policies on how long they will wait for connecting passengers, which can vary depending on several factors such as the number of affected passengers and the impact on the overall flight schedule.

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It's really hard to put an exact number on how long you need for your layover. At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers. But this is not a hard, fast rule! If you have to go through security again on a domestic layover, you might need more time.

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Some airlines provide hotels for layovers longer than 8 hours, while others only provide accommodation for layovers longer than 12 hours. Some airlines only provide accommodation for layovers caused by airline delay or mechanical issues, while others provide accommodation for any layover longer than a certain duration.

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Transit. Another point of confusion is layover vs stopover or transit. Once again, a layover is a stop that lasts less than 24 hours, while a stopover lasts 24 hours or more. On the other hand, Transit is simply the act of returning to the same aircraft after your layover at the airport.

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Layovers come in all shapes and sizes (and lengths!). One type of long layover is a layover imposed by the airline, meaning you've bought one ticket and a layover is part of the itinerary. In these cases, the layover might only be a few hours or it could be a full day or more.

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What To Do During A Layover: 8 Tips For Surviving Long Layovers
  • Catch Up on Sleep. ...
  • Play a Game. ...
  • Research Your Destination. ...
  • Read or Write. ...
  • Meet New People. ...
  • Get Some Work Done. ...
  • Exercise. ...
  • Take a Short Trip Out of the Airport.


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When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

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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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If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

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