Is 2 hours enough for connecting flight in Europe? (2025)

Is 2 hours enough for connecting flight in Europe?

International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

How long do you need between connecting flights in Europe?

What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

Do you have to go through customs if you have a connecting flight in Europe?

You might have to go through customs during a layover, especially if your layover is in the Schengen Area (which consists of most countries in the EU). For example, if your final destination is Paris, France, but you have a layover in Madrid, Spain, you will actually go through customs in Spain, not France.

Is 2 hour layover enough in Paris?

Two hours is plenty if it is a connection and the first flight is on time. It is not enough time if you have two separate tickets where you would have to check in and go through security.

Do I have to go through security again for connecting international flight?

When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).

What happens if you miss a connecting flight in Europe?

What rights do travelers have if they miss a connection flight? If the airline is responsible for your missed connecting flight, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 per person, according to the EU Passenger Regulation. From 2 hours of delay, you are also entitled to utilities.

Do I have to go through immigration for a connecting flight in Schengen?

If both of the countries are within the Schengen Zone, you can skip customs and immigration. For instance, when travelling from France to Mexico with a layover in Spain. Customs and immigration formalities need only be completed once, upon arrival in Mexico.

Is 2 hour layover enough for international flight?

For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

Do I need to collect my baggage for connecting flights in Europe?

If you have a through-fare — one ticket that connects through two or more airports — your airline will tag your bags for their final destination. After you pick up your bag and go through customs, you can quickly recheck them without having to stand in a long line.

How do international connecting flights work?

What is a Connecting Flight? Connecting flights are flights which require passengers to leave the plane and board a different aircraft in order to reach their final destination. For example, imagine you are flying with Lufthansa from London Heathrow to Shenzhen in China.

Is a 2 hour layover in Frankfurt enough?

Airport guidelines also suggest a minimum of 45 minutes for international connections, but given the size of the airport, allowing 60-90 minutes would provide a more comfortable buffer.

How long of a layover do you need in Paris airport?

CDG is a vast and busy airport. Thus, you may even need up to 2.30h to check in for your next flight. So, it is recommended to leave the airport only if you have at least a 7-8-hour stopover ahead of you.

Do I have to pick up my luggage on a connecting international flight in Paris?

If your destination airport is indicated (e.g. MIA), then your luggage is checked through to your final destination. If the airport indicated is CDG or ORY, you need to collect your luggage in Paris and check it in again.

Do flights wait for connecting passengers?

The short answer is sometimes, but not always. Airlines may or may not hold a plane for connecting flyers depending on the circumstances. In this in-depth guide, we'll explore the key factors that determine if your connecting flight will wait or depart on time.

What happens if you miss a connecting international flight?

If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.

Do you have to go through customs on a connecting flight in Amsterdam?

You will, however, go through immigration/passport control in Amsterdam. Unless you have an unreasonable delay, this should be plenty of time. As noted, you won't have to clear customs, but you will have to go through passport control and security.

What happens if my first flight is delayed and I miss my connecting flight Europe?

Compensation for missed connecting flights

Based on the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, you be due €250 to 600 € in compensation. Additionally, the Airline must provide you with foods and drinks from 2 hours waiting time.

What happens if my delayed flight makes me miss my connecting flight?

The airline may choose to accommodate you by booking you on another flight, but that's their discretion, and you may be on the hook for change fees or even fare differences. If you miss a connection because your first flight was delayed, you're entitled to compensation depending on what caused the delay.

What happens if I miss my connecting flight due to short layover?

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

Do you have to go through passport control between Schengen countries?

The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

How much time do you need to change planes in Munich?

While Munich airport guidelines indicate a minimum time of 40 minutes to make a connection, a better option is to choose itineraries with a layover of at least 60 to 75 minutes to account for any flight delays or if you are flying outside of the same air alliance.

Are flights within Schengen considered domestic?

All flights between two or more Schengen States are considered to be «domestic» flights. Depending on your nationality, you might need a short stay visa as you enter the Schengen area – even if the stay of only lasts a few hours.

Is 1 hour enough for connecting flights in Amsterdam?

You should have plenty of time to get to your connecting flight. Minimum transfer times at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are 40 minutes for Schengen flights and 50 minutes for non-Schengen flights. If you need information about other airports, please check the airport website.

Is 2 hours enough time to transfer in Heathrow?

You will only go through security at Heathrow, no immigration or customs. Your flights will arrive/depart at T5 and the connection time at LHR for an international arrival to international departure is 1 hr so 2 hrs should not be a problem - see link for a step by step guide.

Do I need to pick up luggage during layover?

When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.