For many passengers, the airport transfer is the most stressful part of the journey.

Will I make it? What if the first flight is delayed? Do I have to go through security again? What about the suitcase? Can I leave the airport if I have a long layover?

Quick answer: airport transfers in a nutshell

• If you have flights on the same booking, the airline will rebook you if you are delayed.
• The minimum transfer time set by the airline is usually manageable.
• Baggage is usually automatically reloaded when a transfer is guaranteed.
• It is safe to allow at least 4 hours for a self-transfer.
• You can leave the airport during the transfer as long as you meet the visa requirements and have enough time.

Details are explained below.

Guaranteed return flights vs. transfers without guarantee

The cornerstone to understanding the following sections is knowing the difference between guaranteed and non-guaranteed transfers.

Guaranteed transfers

This means you have all your flights on one booking (purchased in one step).

What happens if I miss my connection?

• The airline will rebook you on the next available flight free of charge.
• may provide a meal or hotel
• luggage is usually transferred automatically
• you may be entitled to financial compensation if you are delayed and miss your connection

Non-guaranteed transfer

A non-guaranteed transfer, on the other hand, occurs when you decide to buy one ticket on your own and independently purchase another ticket.

In this case:

• you bear the risk of missing the connection yourself (if you are delayed, you must buy a new flight yourself)
• you must collect and re-check your baggage
• you must check-in online for the next flight (it is not always possible to obtain a boarding pass in the transit area)

Compare connecting flights - skyscanner.com

How much time does it take to transfer?

This is a question that almost every passenger deals with.

The reality is that 45 minutes can be perfectly fine, or 2 hours is sometimes not enough.

It mainly depends on:

• the type of transfer (guaranteed vs. non-guaranteed)
• the size of the airport
• passport or security control
• the need to move between terminals
• whether the transfer is between two international flights or international -> domestic

Approximate realistic times in our experience

Type of transfer	Realistic times
Schengen <-> Schengen Domestic <-> Domestic	30 to 65 minutes
Non-Schengen <-> Schengen	45 to 90 minutes
International -> National	60 to 120 minutes
Large airports (e.g. LHR, CDG, DXB)	75 to 120 minutes
Self-transfer	preferably 3+ hours
First arrival in the U.S.	2-3 hours

If you are buying flights on a single booking, the airline must comply with the so-called "one-stop" policy. minimum connection time and the transfer is officially on time.

Minimum connection time

Each airport has a set minimum connection time.

This determines:

• the shortest possible transfer time
• which airlines must not exceed when selling a ticket.

The minimum time varies by airport, terminal and flight type. Frankfurt, Riyadh, Los Angeles or Heathrow will be different.

So whatever your connection time is when buying guaranteed connecting flights, it is always sufficient and there is no need to worry.

Is 45 minutes enough time for a connection?

Short transfers tend to be fine if:

• you stay in the same terminal
• there is no passport control
• the airport is relatively small (e.g. Porto, Addis Ababa, Muscat)
• it is a transfer between two domestic or Schengen flights <-> Schengen

In these situations even 50 minutes can be completely stress free.

Luggage during the transfer

What about your luggage if you have one or more connections?

In most cases, your luggage will fly to your final destination.

In particular, your baggage will be automatically repositioned when you change planes:

• ✅ transfers are guaranteed (flights on one booking)
• ✅ the transfers are: international -> international (except flights via the USA), domestic -> domestic or domestic -> international (not always)
• ✅ there is typically less than 24 hours between transfers

You must collect and re-check your baggage at the time of transfer, especially in the following cases:

• ❌ transfer is not guaranteed (you bought each flight separately)
• ❌ you are connecting in the USA (always)
• ❌ you are making an international -> domestic transfer (almost always, but there are exceptions, for example at Bangkok airport)
• ❌ transfers are longer than 24 hours

You will always be informed where to pick up your luggage at check-in when you check in your luggage.

Do I have to go through security at the time of my transfer?

It depends on the route, but also on the specific airport.

In my experience, for example, in Europe you never go through security when you change planes between Schengen countries or if you are coming from the USA.

At some airports you do not have to go through security if you have a domestic <-> domestic or international <-> international transfer.

However, there are generally more frequent cases where you have to go through security.

However, some airports have special queues for short-haul passengers.

Transfer boarding pass

In most cases, you will be given all boarding passes when you first check in.

Just keep them and use them when you next board.

If you don't receive a boarding pass for the next flight:

• find the transit counter.
• you will be issued one there.
• you do not leave the transit area

Visa requirements on transfer - am I going through passport control?

The airport is recognised as an international area, so if you will be changing within the transit area between two international flights and you do not leave the airport concourse, you do not need a visa.

You generally do not go through passport control and do not need a visa in these cases:

• transfers are guaranteed (flights on one booking)
• the transfer is of the international type <-> international (except for the USA)
  • Amsterdam - Beijing - Tokyo

You pass through passport control and therefore need a visa (unless you have visa-free travel with the country) in the following cases, for example:

• domestic flight on an international route
  • Vienna - Delhi - Mumbai - Colombo
  • Amsterdam - Shanghai - Beijing - Tokyo
  • and others
• connecting between airports
  • Vienna - London Heathrow / London Gatwick - Barbados
• always in the USA

Can I leave the airport on my transfer?

Do you have a long layover and want to see the city? Usually no problem.

You can leave the airport when changing planes if:

• you meet the visa requirements in the country of transfer
• you have enough time (expect to be back at the airport 2 hours before departure)
  • 👉 Tip: we describe our experience with airport transfers around the world on the website

You must stay at the airport during your transfer if:

• you do not have a visa for the country of transfer
  • common at airports such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Delhi, Mumbai or Cairo
• you have little time (typically 6 hours or less)

In addition, some airports offer free organised city tours on connecting flights.

The most common mistakes during the transfer

There are several situations in which passengers often make mistakes from experience:

• actually combining two separate bookings with little time to spare
• Failure to collect luggage when connecting in the US
• Ignorance of visa requirements (typically when connecting in the US, India or Saudi Arabia)
• Underestimating the size of the airport (having to move between terminals - most common examples from Manila airport)
• not noticing the need to move between airports

Practical tips that really help

I consider the following factors before buying a flight ticket:

• I don't plan for too tight connections in the evening (before the last flight of the day to my destination)
• if I'm travelling in winter, I tend to choose longer connections (more likely to be delayed)

I always do a little check-list before my trip myself for connecting flights:

• check whether I will be moving between terminals (it is always indicated on the ticket)
• check our guides to find out exactly how the transfer procedures work at the specific airport
• check carefully whether I need a visa to change planes (in most cases I don't)

If I have already bought my ticket:

• I pay extra for a seat at the front of the plane if I have a tight connection
• check the gate of the connecting flight on the departure board immediately after disembarkation
• check the departure board regularly (gates can change!)
• I always have my boarding pass ready

Airports where it is good to have a reserve

Some airports may take longer to connect due to the size or layout of the terminals.

There are some airports where I've found it more worthwhile to choose a connection with a longer layover, as they are known for their long queues or not very well organised procedures.

I describe my own experiences on this website:

• Connecting at Paris CDG
• Change at London LHR
• Transfer at Los Angeles LAX

Does a hotel make sense for a longer layover?

If you have an overnight or longer than 6-8 hour layover, an airport hotel can be significantly more convenient than waiting in the terminal.

Airport hotels are typically geared towards short stays:

• reception is usually open 24 hours a day.
• some hotels offer a free shuttle bus
• check-in is often possible at night

For very long layovers, a hotel may even be a better option than going downtown, as it saves time and stress.

Some airports even have hotels located right in the transit area so you don't have to go through passport control at all.

Example of hotels inside the transit zone (airside):

• Yotelair - International Transit Area at Istanbul IST Airport
• Holiday Inn Express Terminal 3 at Delhi DEL Airport
• Aerotel Muscat - Airport Transit Hotel at Muscat Airport MCT

Find a hotel near the airport for 1 night

Conclusion

Airport transfers are simple and routine in most cases.

You just need to remember three things:

1. Know if you have a guaranteed transfer
2. Study in detail the transfer conditions (change of airports, etc.)
3. Knowing whether or not I will have to pick up my luggage here

Then the transfer will usually go smoothly.

Sometimes there are also bonuses associated with transfers in the form of free accommodation on transfer.