If a journey is broken at a certain point in order to change aircraft and continues on to the destination with a different aircraft, this is referred to as a layover. On layover flights, during the aircraft changeover your baggage is transferred to the new aircraft by airport staff.

A layover serves two primary purposes: one for the airline's logistics and one for the passenger's budget. For airlines, layovers allow them to operate a "hub and spoke" model, where passengers from many different cities are funneled into a central hub (like Atlanta or Dubai) to be sorted onto connecting flights to their final destinations. This is much more efficient than trying to fly direct routes between every small city. For passengers, layover flights are almost always cheaper than direct flights, as the airline is compensating you for the added travel time and inconvenience. In 2026, travelers also use "long layovers" (typically 12–24 hours) as a "bonus vacation," allowing them to leave the airport and explore a new city—like Singapore or Istanbul—without paying for an additional flight. Layovers also provide a crucial buffer for crew changes, aircraft refueling, and mechanical inspections between long-haul segments.