The Complete Guide to International Flight Connections

Understanding Minimum Connection Time

Minimum Connection Time (MCT) is the shortest time an airline or airport considers sufficient to make a connection — transfer between two flights at the same airport. At London Heathrow, the MCT for two international flights both arriving and departing from Terminal 5 is 60 minutes. At Tokyo Narita (NRT), the MCT for an international-to-international connection is 90 minutes. These figures are set by the airport authority and vary dramatically between airports and even between terminal combinations at the same airport.

When airlines sell connecting itineraries, they are supposed to guarantee legal connections — ones that meet or exceed the MCT. However, airlines sometimes sell itineraries that technically meet the MCT but leave no margin for a delayed inbound flight. A 75-minute connection at Heathrow Terminal 5 is legal, but if your inbound flight lands 20 minutes late, you have 55 minutes to deplane, clear passport control if required, and reach the gate — which is tight even under ideal conditions.

When booking, aim for connections that are at least 50% longer than the MCT. For a hub with a 60-minute MCT, look for 90 minutes minimum if you are checking bags and 75 minutes if you are traveling carry-on only. For connections requiring a terminal change, add another 20 to 30 minutes. The extra buffer costs nothing if all goes well and saves your trip when delays occur.

If your connection is booked as a single itinerary (one booking reference), the operating airline is responsible for getting you on the next available flight if you miss the connection due to a delay on their part. If you book two separate tickets, missing the second flight is entirely your financial responsibility — even if the delay was the first airline's fault.

Domestic vs. International Connections

The complexity of an international connection depends on two key factors: whether you need to clear customs and immigration, and whether your bags are checked through to the final destination. These factors vary by route, country, and airline.

On connections within the Schengen Area of Europe — which includes Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and 23 other countries — there is no passport control between member states. Flying from London to Amsterdam and then continuing to Paris requires no immigration stop, as the UK–Netherlands leg is an international departure, and the Amsterdam–Paris leg is an intra-Schengen flight. You still pass through security, but the process is faster.

Entering the United States is one of the most complex connection scenarios globally. All passengers entering the U.S. — even those connecting to a domestic or onward international flight — must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), collect their checked bags from the carousel, re-check them at the transfer counter, and then go through TSA security again before boarding their next flight. This process takes a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes for most passengers and can exceed two hours during peak times at busy entry points like JFK, LAX, or Miami. Plan connections of at least three hours when first entering the U.S.

Canada operates a similar model: passengers arriving from abroad must clear the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), even when connecting to another flight. However, major Canadian airports have pre-clearance facilities where U.S.-bound passengers complete U.S. customs formalities in Canada, allowing them to arrive in the U.S. as domestic passengers — a significant advantage for tight connections.

Navigating Terminal Transfers

Many major airports have multiple terminals served by different airlines. When your connecting flight departs from a different terminal than your arrival flight, you must complete the transfer — either airside (after security, no re-screening needed) or landside (exiting and re-entering security). The difference can mean 10 minutes versus 45 minutes.

At Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the two main terminals are connected airside by a people mover called the SkyLine, allowing passengers to move between them without clearing security again. At Heathrow, Terminals 2 and 3 are connected airside via an underground walkway, while Terminals 4 and 5 require a free inter-terminal express train that departs every few minutes.

At airports without airside connections between terminals — such as Charles de Gaulle (CDG) between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — passengers must exit security, take the CDGVAL automated shuttle (running every 4 minutes), and re-enter security at the new terminal. Factor a minimum of 30 to 40 minutes for this transfer during off-peak periods, and 60 minutes during busy morning hours.

Always check the arrivals and departures monitors at your incoming gate for your connecting flight's current gate and any delay information. Gate changes happen frequently. If your connection is tight, inform a flight attendant on your inbound flight — many airlines radio ahead to hold the connecting gate or arrange assistance at the door upon arrival.

Managing Checked Bags on Connections

When you book a single itinerary, airlines typically check your bags through to your final destination. Your bag tag shows the final destination airport code, and your bags transfer automatically between flights without you handling them. You collect them only at the final destination's baggage claim.

Exceptions exist. As noted, the U.S. requires all connecting passengers to collect and re-check bags at the first port of entry. Some Middle Eastern carriers also require a physical bag check even on connecting itineraries. When in doubt, ask the check-in agent at your origin airport whether your bags are checked through or need to be collected en route.

On separate tickets, your bags are almost never checked through automatically. You must collect them at the connecting airport and re-check them for the second flight. Allow extra time for this — collecting bags, clearing the secure zone, re-checking, and clearing security again typically takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the airport and queue length.

If your connection time is very short, consider shipping your luggage separately or traveling carry-on only. Several services (Luggage Forward, Send My Bag) will pick up your bags from your home and deliver them to your destination hotel, eliminating the baggage variable entirely from a tight connection.

What to Do When You Miss a Connection

If you miss a connection on a single itinerary due to a delay on the operating airline's part, go immediately to the airline's transfer desk — usually positioned near the baggage belts or in the arrivals hall. Do not wait at the gate or try to self-rebook; the transfer desk has the most authority to rebook you, arrange hotels, and provide meal vouchers.

EU Regulation 261/2004 entitles passengers on flights departing from or arriving in EU airports (on EU carriers) to compensation and assistance for significant delays and missed connections caused by the airline. For connections of more than three hours beyond the original arrival time, compensation ranges from €250 for short routes to €600 for routes over 3,500 km. Always request written confirmation of the reason for the delay from the airline.

In the U.S., there is no equivalent federal rule requiring airlines to compensate passengers for missed connections caused by delays — though airlines' own conditions of carriage typically commit them to rebooking at no charge on the next available flight. Document everything: take photos of flight boards showing delays, and keep any receipts for meals or hotel stays forced by the missed connection.

The most reliable strategy for international connections is to book a single itinerary with the MCT plus a minimum 50% buffer, and choose hub airports with strong airside terminal connections where no re-screening is required.