Is your layover long enough?

It depends on the airport, whether your flights are domestic or international, and whether you need to change terminals or clear security again. As a general rule, 60–90 minutes works for domestic connections at most U.S. airports, while international connections often need 2–3 hours. Our airport-specific guides give you a precise recommendation based on real layout data and minimum connection times.

A minimum connection time is the shortest layover an airline will sell for a given airport and connection type. MCTs are set by IATA and vary by airport—they account for terminal layout, security requirements, and immigration. If your layover is shorter than the MCT, the airline may not book you on that itinerary. Our guides show MCTs for every connection type at each airport.

At some airports, yes—especially for domestic-to-domestic connections at single-terminal airports like Seattle or Denver. At complex hubs like JFK, Heathrow, or Charles de Gaulle, one hour is often not enough. Check our airport-specific verdict to see whether your connection is safe.

If your flights are on a single ticket, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge. If you booked separate tickets, you are responsible for purchasing a new ticket. This is one reason layover time matters—especially on connections between different airlines or separate bookings.

It depends on the airport and connection type. Domestic-to-domestic connections in the U.S. typically do not require re-screening. International arrivals almost always do. Some airports, like Amsterdam Schiphol, offer transfer corridors that skip security for certain connections. Our airport guides detail exactly when re-screening applies.