Short layovers can feel stressful. You're watching the clock, wondering if you'll make your next gate, and hoping your bag does too.
But here's the thing: with a bit of prep and know-how, you can handle even tight connections without the panic.
This guide covers everything you need to know about short layovers, from working out if yours is too tight to navigating busy airports like a pro.
Whether you're a frequent flyer or this is your first connection, we've got practical tips to help you get from plane A to plane B without breaking a sweat!
Let's clear up the basics first. When you're connecting between flights, you'll hear two terms thrown around: layover and stopover. They sound similar, but the difference comes down to time.
A layover is a short break between flights. For domestic connections, it's usually under 4 hours. For international flights, it's anything less than 24 hours. Most of the time, you'll stay inside the airport, waiting to board your next flight.
A stopover is like an extended pit stop. It's anything longer than 4 hours on domestic flights, or more than 24 hours internationally. With a stopover, you'll often have enough time to leave the airport and explore the city before catching your next flight.
Some airlines call any connection under 24 hours a layover, whether you're flying within the same country or heading overseas.
Whether a layover feels short depends on if you're flying domestic or international. International connections need more time since you'll be dealing with customs and immigration.
In most cases:
You'll want to factor in the size of the airport, whether you're changing terminals, and if you need to clear customs.
It's natural to worry about tight connections. Honestly, there's no magic formula that works for everyone. While airlines won't sell you a flight without adequate connection time, reality can be a bit messier. Here's what to consider when working out if your layover is risky:
Here's what we recommend for a less stressful journey:
Check out our detailed guide on getting through airport security efficiently below 👇
It depends. Whether you need to clear customs during a layover comes down to where you’re flying, how the airport is set up and your travel plan.
If you’re landing in the US or Canada from another country, you’ll always clear customs and immigration at your first stop, even if you’re just passing through. This means you’ll need to show your passport, grab your luggage, check it back in, and go through security again before boarding your next flight.
In Europe, it’s all about whether you’re travelling inside or outside the Schengen Zone. If your flights stay within the Schengen Area, you usually won’t need to deal with customs on your layover. But if you’re entering or leaving the Schengen Zone, you’ll clear immigration at the first or last point of entry.
In some regions, you might be able to skip customs thanks to international transit zones that keep you ‘airside’ between flights. But not all airports offer this, so you may need to go through customs and immigration, even if you’re connecting between two international flights.
Take a look at our Connecting Flights guide, packed with tips to help make your layover stress-free, as well as our custom rules per country page, which features information on travelling to the US, UK, EU, China and more.
If you miss your flight due to a short layover, here's what we recommend doing:
We have a detailed guide on what to do if you miss your connecting flight - check it out now 👇
In this guide, we've covered how to deal with a short layover, but we understand if you might still have concerns! If you'd like to speak to us, our Customer Service team will be happy to help with any concerns or questions you may have.
Alternatively, we might have the answer to your question in our FAQs below!
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Simply put, a layover flight is a flight with a stop in the middle. Sometimes, this will mean staying on the aircraft while it lands to drop off and pick up passengers. Other times, it will mean you have to get off the plane and board a new one at the airport.
When you only have a very limited time to make your connecting flight, this is called a short layover (or a tight connection). A layover is different from a stopover, which is normally over 24 hours and may allow you enough time to explore the place you're stopping.
You can learn more about long stopovers with our blog on planning the perfect stopover.
Whether a layover is considered short or long will vary depending on whether it is an international or domestic layover flight. 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 very short, layover.
It's common to worry that your layover is too short. And, unfortunately, there isn't an easy way of knowing if your layover will be long enough to make your connection. While airlines won't sell a flight that doesn't provide you with adequate time to make your connection, in reality, you might need a bit longer to make your connection.
Try to take into account the time you will need to go through customs and immigration for international layovers. You may also need to consider the time it takes to change terminals if your flights are with different airlines and also the size of the airport you are travelling to.
Allowing yourself at least a 60-minute layover for domestic flights and a two-hour layover time for international flights can often be a much more comfortable and stress-free journey than booking a flight with a very tight connection. If you require special assistance at the airport, you may need to arrange a much longer layover.
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. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights. You may also have to claim and re-check your baggage.
Other factors to take into account include the time of year and the size of the airport you're flying into. If your connecting flight leaves from a notoriously busy airport, it may be necessary to arrange a layover that's at least three hours long.
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.
Normally, when layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred 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.
On interline flights (where two airlines agree to handle passengers with multiple legs in their journey), your baggage will be transferred automatically. For international layovers in the US and Canada, you will have to collect and recheck your luggage independent of whether the flights are booked on the same airline.
To be sure about what will happen to your baggage during your layover, always ask the airline staff what will happen to your baggage when checking in for your first flight.
For international layover flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. For flights with a layover in Canada or the USA, you will need to go through immigration and fill out the necessary customs paperwork even if you are not staying in the country.
If your international layover is within the Schengen Zone, you will not have to go through customs and immigration for your layover. For example, if you are flying from France to Spain and then onto Mexico, you will only have to go through customs and immigration upon arrival in Mexico.
For domestic-to-domestic layovers, you normally won't have to go through security again during your layover.
However, for all international layovers, you will normally have to go through security again, but this will depend on individual airport policy.
If your first flight is delayed because of technical or maintenance issues, the airline will help you book onto the next available flight.
However, this may only be the case if both flights were booked on the same ticket. Or, if both flights are with the same airline or partner airlines.
If the missed connection is due to the fault of the airline (i.e. the first plane is delayed due to a technical fault) and you are booked onto a "through ticket" (one ticket for the entire journey) then it is the airline's responsibility to help you book another flight.
If you miss the connection through fault of your own, then the airline is under no obligation to help you re-book. If the two flights are on separate tickets, the airlines are not likely to take responsibility for a missed connection and you may have to purchase a new ticket yourself.
Yes - a 40-minute layover is considered a short layover or tight connection. This may not be enough time for you to change terminals or go through security if you're flying internationally.
Yes, a 30-minute layover is very short for most airports and likely won't be enough time for you to make your next flight, especially if there are delays or if your gate is far.
