Connecting flights: Layovers, baggage & tips

Jun 23 2026 Travel trends

If the thought of missing your onward flight, luggage problems, or not being familiar with an airport makes your connection flight worrying, don't be alarmed, most connecting flights are much simpler than they first seem.

Connecting flights basically mean it is a flight that does not take you from your departure city directly to your destination. It will stop at an intermediary airport where you get out of your plane and on to the next one that will take you on the remaining part of your trip.

To give an example of connection flight. If your final destination from Sofia to New York has a connecting flight in Frankfurt, Frankfurt is not your final destination, this is the connecting airport and you get out of the plane there to take another one.

Connecting flights explained

A connecting flight is when you travel to your destination on 2 or more separate flights instead of one. You arrive at an airport in between and board another plane for your continuing journey.

There are numerous reasons this can occur; you might be traveling to a destination there isn't a direct flight to, or a connecting flight could simply be cheaper than flying direct. Airlines can use connections in order to transport people through their central hub airports and join different routes together.

If booked on one ticket, you generally get selling points showing these are connections which can meet with a Minimum Connection Time at every transit airport (MCT) but doesn't always indicate an convenient connection, so time allowed should always be checked prior to booking.

Transit, layover, and stopover: What's the difference?

You hear transit, layover and stopover - three words that seem pretty interchangeable, right? The truth is that there are subtle differences between them that mostly come down to how long you'll be in transit and the context of the travel arrangements.

Transit or layover, in most instances, refers to a stop at an airport that's less than 24 hours in duration, prior to boarding your next connecting flight. This can be as short as an hour's layover between flights, or it can be for several hours, during which you might grab a quick bite to eat, relax, do some shopping or simply explore the airport.

A stopover, on the other hand, implies spending more than 24 hours in the transit city, before continuing on your journey to your final destination. There are also often stopover packages available with airlines, which offer bundled pricing for hotels, excursions and deals in cities like Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, or Singapore.

So the biggest difference is how long you're in transit for; anything under 24 hours will be described as a transit or layover, while anything longer than 24 hours will be known as a stopover.

How much time do you need for a connecting flight?

Do you ever wonder about the ideal amount of time to leave in between connecting flights so you don't have to stress about barely making it or losing your luggage?

If it's a simple connection with the same airline and you're on the same terminal without the need to collect bags, go through immigration, or transfer between terminals, 45-60 minutes should work.

If you're changing terminals or airlines or departing from an international airport, you'll want a 2-3 hour connection which will really ease your connection anxiety.

International connections often require more time for passport control, security, customs and visa procedures. It might even involve taking an airport shuttle or train to reach your next gate, or a long walk.

Large airports like Charles de Gaulle, Dubai and Frankfurt can have large terminals where navigating between gates can take more time than anticipated, even with the best planning.

What is Minimum Connection Time

MCT stands for Minimum Connection Time and, as the name suggests, it's the least amount of time you have to connect through a particular airport. MCTs aren't uniform - they differ significantly based on a variety of factors:

• the size of the airport
• the airlines you're traveling on
• the routes they serve

Whether it's a domestic or international connection; and if you need to switch between terminals or if you're staying in the same terminal.

Most airlines will not give you a ticket with two connecting flights if the layover between flights is less than the MCT of that specific airport and airline, however, an MCT is the absolute bare minimum time.

Delays on your initial flight, a lengthy walk between gates, or the unexpected closing of a walkway can quickly turn a legally feasible connection into an impossible one. If at all possible, always aim for a later connection if your connecting time seems a bit too tight.

What happens to your luggage on connecting flights

How you check in baggage for your connecting flight will differ depending on whether you bought one or two tickets.

If you have one ticket, your bags should automatically be transferred all the way to your destination, all you have to do is hand over your baggage in the airport and then collect them after your last connecting flight.

Any destination or airport shown on your baggage tag will serve as a guide. If you are flying internationally, this can differ as you may be required to pick up your bags and check them in with your next airline for customs, although you will be notified during the check-in process.

What can you do during a layover

Having a layover doesn't mean you have to be stuck with wasted time. After all, airports themselves are usually quite the experience!

Changi Singapore: Famous for gardens, shopping, entertainment & relaxing facilities. Incheon Seoul: cultural activities, rest zones and passenger services galore. Munich Airport also a nice place to while away a few hours, excellent food choices, shopping & relaxing chairs.

On a longer stopover you can possibly leave the airport and experience the city. Doha, Dubai and Istanbul are some of the popular stopover cities that turn long connections into mini-breaks.

Before departing from the airport, you need to consider; entry requirements for visa, time it takes to get to city and back, airport congestion, wait at the airport security and flight boarding time. Visiting the city is quite pleasant but it's only worthwhile when you have enough time to reach the airport before departure without complications.

Alternatively, if you do not want to leave the airport premises, you may buy a day access pass to a lounge. Some lounges offer passes for between and at most airports and lounge. Lounges are useful because they provide a peaceful environment to rest, Wi-Fi, food and drink, and sometimes showers are available.

However for very long layovers, search for airport sleep pods, silent areas or transit hotels. Some airports have hotels within their terminals which can be a suitable place for having good sleep when you do not wish to leave the airport for any reason at all.

Apart from sleeping, always walk around during your transit layovers as long sitting and flight experiences affect blood circulation.

Will I need to check in for a connection flight

If your flights are booked together, you will probably be checked in for the full journey and be given all your boarding passes at the start. If you booked with separate airlines, you will most likely need to check in with the second airline you will be travelling on.

With a little planning, a connection can be clear, uncomplicated, and stress-free.