Airport Layover Calculator: Check Your Flight Connection Time

Five terminals, with T5 (exclusively British Airways and Iberia) being self-contained and efficient. T2, T3, T4, and T5 require inter-terminal transit – a dedicated bus or the T4 spur of the Heathrow Express. Allow at minimum 90 minutes for same-terminal connections and 2+ hours for inter-terminal transfers.

A single terminal building with efficient airside connections. The MCT of 40 minutes is genuinely achievable for most same-terminal, same-airline connections. International to international connections requiring Schengen entry add complexity.

Two terminals: T1 (most airlines) and T3 (exclusively Emirates). T3 is enormous – from gate to gate on the same terminal can take 20 minutes. Connections between T1 and T3 require a transfer bus. Allow 3+ hours for inter-terminal connections at DXB and 2+ hours for same-terminal connections during peak periods.

Two terminals connected by a SkyLine rail link (8 minutes). Immigration-free connections within Schengen are efficient. Connections involving non-Schengen arrivals with UK or US passport holders requiring immigration checks take significantly longer. Allow 90 minutes minimum for all connections and 2+ hours for inter-terminal.

One of the world's largest airport buildings – single terminal but enormous. Gate-to-gate walking times can reach 20–25 minutes. Turkish Airlines connections are well-managed due to the airline's hub dominance, but self-transfers require careful timing. Allow 2+ hours for all connections.

Eight terminals – some of the most disjointed airport logistics in the world. Connections between terminals require clearing US customs and re-clearing security. For self-transfers between different airlines at JFK, allow a minimum of 3 hours. Even same-airline connections involving a terminal change require 2+ hours.

When both flights are on a single booking – whether from the same airline or booked through a codeshare – the airline is responsible for your connection. If you miss your connection because of a delay on the first leg, the airline must rebook you at no cost and provide meals and accommodation where applicable. Your baggage is also checked through automatically.

When you book two separate tickets – even on the same airline – you take on full responsibility for the connection. If you miss the second flight, you've lost that ticket with no obligation from the carrier. This is common with budget airline combinations or when mixing different booking platforms for price. Self-transfers require significantly more connection buffer – typically double the MCT.

Minimum Connection Times (MCTs) vary by airport, terminal pair, and passenger type (domestic, international, or transit). Our calculator uses indicative planning buffers, not a live airline-specific MCT database. Check the permitted connection with the operating airline, especially if changing terminals or travelling on separate tickets.

If you're on a single booking and your first flight was delayed causing you to miss your connection, the operating carrier is responsible for rebooking you on the next available flight to your final destination at no cost. Under UK261/EU261, you may also be entitled to meals, accommodation, and potentially compensation depending on your total arrival delay.

If you're on a single booking, your bags are typically checked through to your final destination and you don't collect them at the connection point. If you're on separate bookings (self-transfer), you'll need to collect bags, clear customs if applicable, and re-check them. Factor in at least 30–45 minutes for this.

It depends on your routing. Airside-to-airside connections within the same terminal or security zone generally don't require re-screening. Any connection that involves passing through immigration or exiting the secure airside area requires going back through security.

At simple, efficient airports for same-terminal connections on a single booking, yes – Schiphol, Munich (MUC), and Zurich (ZRH) are examples where 60-minute connections are regularly achieved. At complex multi-terminal airports or for connections requiring immigration, 60 minutes is extremely risky.

Alert cabin crew as soon as you know your first flight is delayed – they can sometimes communicate with the gate team at your connecting airport. At the connecting airport, go immediately to the airline's transfer desk rather than the general check-in area. Don't waste time at baggage claim if your bags are checked through.

For long layovers (6+ hours), leaving the airport can be an appealing option. Whether you can do so depends on your passport and whether a transit visa is required for the layover country. UK passport holders can typically exit without a transit visa in most major hub countries, but always verify beforehand.