Through-ticket or separate bookings
The most important question about any connection is how it was booked. When both flights are on a single booking, the airline knows you are connecting. Your bags are normally checked through to your final destination, and if the first flight is late and you miss the second, the airline typically helps rebook you.
If you book two separate tickets yourself, perhaps to save money, the second airline has no obligation to wait or rebook you. You may also need to collect your bags and check them in again. Self-built connections need far more generous margins.
Judging the layover time
Airports set minimum connection times, and itineraries sold on a single booking will meet them. That minimum assumes things go roughly to plan. If you are travelling at a busy time, have limited mobility, are unfamiliar with the airport or simply dislike rushing, a longer layover may be worth choosing.
Consider what happens between the two gates. A connection within the Schengen area, for example between Munich and Rome, usually involves no passport control. Connecting between a Schengen flight and a non-Schengen one, such as a flight to or from London Heathrow or Dublin, often means a passport check, which can have queues.
On the day
On your first flight, check the arrival gate and look up your connecting gate on the airport app or the screens as soon as you land. Follow the signs for transfers or connections rather than the exit. Some airports require a security re-check for transfer passengers, so keep liquids and electronics organised.
If you are seated near the back and your connection is tight, let the cabin crew know before landing. They cannot hold the next flight, but they may be able to share gate information.
If you miss it
If you miss a connection on a single booking because the first flight was late, go to the transfer desk or contact the airline straight away. You will usually be placed on the next available flight. Depending on the circumstances, you may also be entitled to care such as meals during a long wait, under EU passenger rights for flights that fall within their scope.
Keep your boarding passes and any receipts until the journey is complete. They help if you need to follow up later.
Good to know
- Prefer connections on a single booking so your bags and rebooking are covered.
- Allow extra time when moving between Schengen and non-Schengen flights.
- Look up your onward gate as soon as you land.