Layover
The time you spend waiting at a connecting airport between two flights — from a 45-minute sprint to a 12-hour wait. Shorter isn't always better.
What is a layover?
A layover is the period between two connecting flights at an intermediate airport. It begins when you land at the connecting airport and ends when your onward flight departs. Layovers can range from a minimum connection time of 45 minutes at a small airport to 12 or more hours at a major hub. Anything under 24 hours is a layover; over 24 hours becomes a stopover.
The distinction matters for pricing: airlines do not typically charge differently for the duration of a layover (provided it stays under 24 hours), so a 10-hour layover and a 2-hour layover may be priced identically. The choice between them is entirely about your comfort and available time.
Minimum connection times
Every airport publishes a Minimum Connection Time (MCT) — the absolute minimum time the airport considers sufficient to transfer between two flights, check in baggage to the onward flight, clear any required security or immigration checks, and reach the departure gate. MCTs vary by airport (45 min at Dublin, 60 min at Schiphol, 75 min at Heathrow Terminal 5, 90 min at JFK) and by whether you are connecting domestically or internationally, or whether both flights are in the same terminal.
Booking a connection at exactly the MCT is risky. A slight delay on the inbound flight, a long immigration queue, or a gate change can cause you to miss your connection. Experienced travellers allow at least double the MCT as a personal minimum.
Making long layovers enjoyable
A long layover is an opportunity rather than a waste of time. Many major hub airports offer day rooms, airport lounges (accessible via credit card perks or day passes), transit hotels, and city tours. Singapore Changi's transit area includes a butterfly garden, a swimming pool, and a cinema. Abu Dhabi offers a free transit tour for passengers with long connections.
If your layover exceeds 5 hours and you have the right visa status (many European airports are visa-free for transit), consider leaving the airport and seeing the city. A 7-hour layover in Lisbon is enough for a tram ride, a pastel de nata, and a walk through Alfama. FairFares covers deals from major European stopover hubs — browse them to spot your next adventure.