What is the time limit for a layover?

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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The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

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If your layover is more than 8/9 hours, it is suggested to book a transit hotel where you can sit, relax and take a nap. Instead of roaming around the airport, you can have a relaxing time in the hotel.

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Scheduled Long Layovers If you have a long layover that is scheduled as part of your itinerary, your airline may provide you with a hotel. Generally, this is only the case if your layover is longer than eight hours.

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What to do during a long layover
  1. Escape the airport on your own to explore the city.
  2. Take an organized tour of the city.
  3. Book yourself into a transfer hotel.
  4. Try out the local cuisine.
  5. Indulge in the comfort food you've been avoiding.
  6. Take a shower.
  7. Phone a friend.
  8. Find a meditation room.


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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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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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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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What is a legal connection time? In the U.S. there's no overarching rule about minimum connection times. Airlines are free to set their own guidelines and sell connecting flight itineraries with whatever time between flights they feel is reasonable.

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“On average, 35 minutes is what they consider a legal connection,” said Loulu Lima founder of the Texas-based travel agency Book Here Give Here.

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8 Things to do If You Think Your Layover is Too Short
  1. Change your flight. ...
  2. Change your seat. ...
  3. Pack up your carry-on. ...
  4. Travel carry-on only. ...
  5. Ask for your connecting gate. ...
  6. Look at the airport map. ...
  7. Don't make any stops in the airport. ...
  8. Wear comfortable shoes.


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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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Domestic flights - Yes. Keep in mind you will have to go through security again, which may cause you to miss your flight depending on how long your layover is.

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It (typically) violates the airline contract of carriage
While not illegal, intentionally skipping segments on an itinerary does almost always violates airlines' contracts of carriage.

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If you purposely choose to miss a connecting flight, or if you are otherwise responsible for missing it, the airline is under no obligation to pay you compensation or to rebook you. You can ask them to help you book a new flight, but this will have to come out of your own pocket.

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It makes sense, because the practice saps revenue from them on two fronts: Not only do passengers underpay — potentially by hundreds of dollars per ticket — but the seat on the tossed leg also could have been sold to someone else. Most contracts of carriage from major airlines expressly forbid skiplagging as a result.

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For Domestic Flights
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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