Travel Glossary · Air Travel
Layover
Definition
Layover: A layover is the time you spend at an intermediate airport between connecting flights, typically under 24 hours on international trips and under four hours domestically.
Layover and connection mean the same thing. On a single ticket, the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination, so if a delay causes you to miss the next flight, it rebooks you. On separately purchased tickets, that protection usually disappears, and a missed connection becomes your problem.
How long a layover should be depends on the airport. Airlines will sell any connection that meets the minimum connection time, but international arrivals into the US require clearing immigration and customs and rechecking bags, and large hubs can involve terminal changes. Leaving the airport during a long layover also means meeting that country’s entry rules; US citizens need a UK ETA to step out at Heathrow, for example.
Long layovers are where lounge access earns its keep. See our airport lounge access guide.
Go deeper
- Travel GuidesAirport Lounge Access Guide: Every Way to Get InAirport lounge access explained: how premium tickets, alliance elite status, airline memberships, and credit cards get you in, plus guest rules and time limits.
- Travel GuidesFlight Delay and Cancellation Rights: What You’re OwedFlight delay and cancellation rights explained: US DOT refund rules, what airlines owe for delays, EU261 and UK compensation, and what to do if flights cancel.
- Travel GuidesLong-Haul Flight Tips: How to Arrive Rested and ReadyLong-haul flight tips that work: choose the right seat and flight, pack a smart carry-on, reduce blood-clot risk, and sleep better so you arrive ready to go.
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