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Layover planner

Tell us how long you wait and what kind of connection it is. You get a safe minimum, an honest verdict and how much time you could really spend outside the airport.

1. How long is your layover?
Or work it out from the clock times

Use the local time at the airport. A departure earlier than the arrival counts as the next day. If the clocks change that night, the real wait is an hour longer or shorter.

2. What happens between the flights?
3. Are you allowed to leave the airport?

Visa-free entry or a valid visa or travel authorisation for the country you connect in.

4. What about checked bags?

Comfortable

Safe minimum
2h

for this kind of connection

Your buffer
+3h

over the safe minimum

Free to leave the airport
-

Where your time goes

What fits

    Rule of thumb only. The airline's official minimum connection time and the visa rules decide. Separate tickets are at your own risk.

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    The rules of thumb we use

    ConnectionSafe minimumBorderSecurityTransfer
    Same terminal, no border check 1h none 30 min none
    International arrival, immigration needed 2h 45 min 30 min none
    Terminal change or transfer 2h 20 min 30 min 20 min
    Separate tickets 3h 45 min 30 min 15 min

    Collecting and re-checking bags adds 45 minutes. Time free to leave the airport is the layover minus border, security, transfer, bags, the round trip to the city and a 2 hour buffer before departure. Leaving only makes sense if at least 1.5 hours are left, and a city trip needs a layover of 7 hours or more.

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    Frequently asked questions

    How long should a layover be?
    As a rule of thumb, allow at least 1 hour for a domestic connection with no border check, 2 hours when you must clear immigration or change terminals, and 3 hours or more on separate tickets. These are conservative planning numbers. The airline publishes an official minimum connection time for each airport, and a booking engine will not sell you a protected connection shorter than that.
    What is a minimum connection time?
    It is the shortest time an airline or airport accepts for passengers and bags to get from one flight to the next, set per airport, terminal and flight type. It is a floor for a smooth day, not a guarantee. If you buy both flights in one booking and the first is late, the airline will normally rebook you, though what you are owed depends on the airline and the rules where you fly. On separate tickets there is usually no such protection.
    Can I leave the airport on a layover?
    Only if you are allowed to enter that country. Many nationalities need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation even for a few hours, while others may enter visa-free. If you are not sure, assume you must stay airside and check the entry rules for your passport first. This planner only counts leaving the airport as an option when you answer yes.
    How is the time to leave the airport worked out?
    We take your layover and subtract everything you cannot skip: border or immigration queue, security again, any terminal transfer or bag recollection, the round trip to the city and a 2 hour buffer to be back at the airport before departure. What remains is the time you could spend outside. Under 1.5 hours we do not recommend leaving at all.
    Are separate tickets risky?
    Yes. If your first flight is delayed and you miss the second, the second airline owes you nothing and the first airline is not responsible for a ticket it did not sell. You also usually collect your bags and check in again. Most travellers aim for at least 3 hours, often more, and keep the cost of a rebooking in mind.
    Does this replace the airline minimum connection time?
    No. It is a rule of thumb, not a booking tool. The airline minimum connection time and the visa rules of the country you are passing through decide what is possible. When the two disagree, follow the stricter one.

    More travel tools

    Jet Lag Calculator Plan sleep and light for the new time zone. Emergency Numbers Know who to call if plans fall apart. Visa Checker See entry rules for your passport.