What Is a Layover? What to Do During a Short One
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Edited by Adinda Irawan
Edited by 
TL;DR: Defines layover vs. connecting flight vs. stopover; under 3h stay in terminal, over 6h consider leaving if entry rules allow. Covers immigration/security re-clearance and what happens if you miss a connection on one vs. separate tickets.
What is a layover?
A layover is the time you spend at an airport between two flights on the same trip. You land, change planes and fly on to your destination. A short layover gets you there faster, but it’s stressful if you don’t know what to expect, so here is what to know before you book or land.
Layover, connecting flight or stopover?
- Layover: the time on the ground between two flights.
- Connecting flight: the onward flight you take after the layover. If your trip has a connecting flight, it has a layover.
- Stopover: a longer break in the trip, usually planned so you can leave the airport and spend time in the city before you fly on.
The short answers
- Can you leave the airport? With under three hours, stay in the terminal. With more than six hours, leaving starts to make sense if the country’s entry rules allow it.
- Do you go through customs again? It depends on the airport and the country, not only on your ticket.
- How much time do you need? There is no single figure. Airlines set a minimum connection time for each airport and route.
- What if you miss the connection? On one ticket, the airline should rebook you. On separate bookings, UK rules give you no right to onward transport to your final destination.
How much time do you need for a layover?
No single number makes a layover long enough. Airlines set a minimum connection time for each airport and route, and the time you need depends on the route, the airline, whether you have to collect bags and whether you change terminals.
London Heathrow is a good example. It gives no single connection time. Transfers between terminals use a free shuttle bus that runs every 10 minutes, and connections within a terminal are on foot or by a free tram (Heathrow connecting flights). Each extra step, such as a terminal change, a security check or collecting a bag, uses part of your layover.
A connection gets tighter when:
- The airport is large. That can mean longer walks, shuttle rides or a change of terminal, so build in extra time.
- You arrive on an international flight. Passport checks, a second security screening or customs can use up part of your connection time.
- Your flights are on separate tickets. You may need to collect your bags and check them in again between flights.
For the mechanics of one-ticket and self-transfer connections, see our guide to how layovers and connecting flights work.
What to do first when you land
Whether you have 45 minutes or just under two hours, do these things in this order:
- Check your next gate as soon as your first flight lands.
- Head toward your connection first. Leave the bathroom break and the coffee until you know how far you have to go.
- Don’t wander off. You may not have time to explore.
If your gate is nearby, you’ll have time to spare. If it isn’t, you’ll be glad you didn’t stop for coffee.
Do you go through immigration and security again?
It depends on the airport and the country, not only on whether your flights are on one ticket. Three common cases:
- At London Heathrow, connecting passengers usually skip passport control but go through security screening again, even on one ticket. If you arrive on an international flight and leave on a domestic one, you also go through biometrics and immigration before security.
- Flying into the US, you clear CBP inspection at the first US airport before your onward flight. The exception is preclearance: if you cleared US inspection before departure, you skip CBP and TSA inspection on arrival and go straight to your connecting flight.
- On separate tickets, the airport may not treat you as a connecting passenger. At Heathrow, it doesn’t: you clear immigration, collect your bags, check in again and go through security.
If you might pass through immigration, check the visa and entry rules for the country you connect through before you book. And always double-check whether your bags are checked through to your final destination.
If you’ll go through security again, these tips help you get through airport security fast.
What you can do if there’s time
If things are going smoothly and your gate isn’t far away, there is time for a few quick things:
- Use the restroom before boarding.
- Refill your water bottle or buy a snack.
- Charge your phone where you can see the gate.
- Take a short walk to stretch your legs, and keep an eye on the time.
Set a reminder to head to the gate at least 20 minutes before boarding, and earlier for a large international flight.
Tips that save time on a short connection
- Sit near the front of the plane so you can get off faster.
- Ask the flight crew if your next gate is far. They often know before you land.
- Download the airport app to track gate changes and find your way with its maps.
- Confirm your bags are checked through. On separate tickets, you may need to collect them and check them in again, which adds another delay.
Packing light also helps you move quickly. Here is what to pack for a connection.
Can you leave the airport during a layover?
On a short layover, no. KAYAK’s layover guide says that if your layover is under three hours, it’s a wise move to stay put. Leaving the airport means you have to factor in:
- Immigration queues
- Travel time into town and back
- Security screening again on the way back in
- The risk of missing your next flight
How long you have changes the answer:
- Under 3 hours: stay in the terminal.
- 3 to 6 hours: add up the steps above for your airport. If they leave you little time outside, stay.
- More than 6 hours: leaving starts to make sense. For a 12-hour layover, KAYAK’s advice is to leave the airport.
Before you leave, check the visa and entry rules for the country. If you want time in the city, a stopover may suit you better; see how to plan a multi-stop trip.
What happens if you miss your connection?
It depends on whether both flights are on one ticket.
- One ticket: the airline should rebook you, and EU and UK passenger rights can apply. Speak to the airline at the airport as soon as you land.
- Separate bookings (a self-transfer): according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, if a delay makes you miss a flight, you have no statutory right to care, compensation or transport to your final destination. The rights for each individual flight still apply.
That’s why it’s safer to book both legs on the same ticket. Our guide to one ticket or separate tickets explains rebooking and missed-connection rights in more detail.
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