Not so fast: Why you should think twice before booking flights with a tight connection (2024)

FAQs

Do I need to check in twice for connecting flights? ›

In most cases, you'll receive your boarding pass for your connecting flight already when you check in for your first flight. This means you don't have to check in again for your next flight. If you haven't received it, you can go to the transfer desk or kiosk of the airline you're flying with to collect it.

While not illegal, intentionally skipping segments on an itinerary does almost always violates airlines' contracts of carriage. For example, American's contract of carriage says this: Reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are prohibited.

Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed.

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.

For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

Unless your flight is in another terminal building, you won't have to exit air-side to land-side and go through security again. If you are going from domestic to international travel (or vise-versa), then yes. You probably will have to go through a security check again, as the terminals tend to be separate.

"Skiplagged deceives the public into believing that, even though it has no authority to form and issue a contract on American's behalf, somehow it can still issue a completely valid ticket. It cannot. Every 'ticket' issued by Skiplagged is at risk of being invalidated," the airline said.

In most cases, US airlines will put you on the next available flight for free. (Even some ultra-low-cost carriers, like Spirit and Allegiant, will rebook you on the next flight for free if the missed connection is due to a flight delay.)

Skiplagged searches for the route you want to take and then looks to see if there are cheaper options on the same route by booking an onward flight. The example Skiplagged uses is a flight from Atlanta to Orlando costing $250, but a flight from Atlanta through Orlando to Dallas costing $130.

The airline should re-book the passenger on the next available flight or in the case of the next outbound flight being the next morning, the airline should either provide booking for another airline or provide accomodations and meals.

What is the minimum connection time for international flights? ›

MCTs could be as low as 30 minutes for domestic, whilst for international flights can be up to an hour and a half to transfer to an international carrier.

The security procedures for international and domestic flights may vary. If you are on an international connecting flight, it is more likely that you will need to go through security again. This is because international airports often have separate terminals or concourses with their security checkpoints.

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.

International flights: Aim for 3 hours to handle customs and immigration. Airport familiarity: If you know the airport is efficient, you might be comfortable arriving closer to departure.

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.

Connecting flight FAQ

In most cases, luggage is checked through to your final destination and you won't need to clear customs on your connection. Some countries, like the United States, are exceptions. The check-in agent will advise you on your specific itinerary when dropping your bag at your first airport.

How do flight connections work? Generally, if you are on an internal flight, once you land for your stopover, you will pass through the transfer area that will take you to the gate for your next flight where check-in is not required. Your bags will be passed on to the next flight without you having to pick them.

Transfer between different airport terminals

The trip you've selected requires a self-transfer with a short connecting time usually below 2 hours. It means that you'll need to transfer between flights, clearing immigrations and customs, and checking in again for the next flight by yourself.

If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening.