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Is your layover long enough?

Airport connection time calculator for 77+ airports with minimum connection times

Enter your airport and connection details. The calculator checks minimum connection times, terminal transfers, customs, TSA re-screening, and checked-bag recheck rules, then tells you whether to relax or run.

At a glance
  • 77 airports with verified minimum connection times
  • Top 20 hubs have terminal-by-terminal transfer times and customs wait estimates
  • 4 verdict types: below MCT, tight, comfortable, long enough to leave
  • Peak vs off-peak adjustments for TSA and customs
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For a safe connection at , aim for

≥ min

min airport floor min buffer

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline. Powered by Travel Vient Terms

Minimum connection times by airport

Sortable comparison of domestic MCT, international-to-domestic MCT, peak and off-peak customs wait times, and airside connectivity for all 77 airports. Airport-standard domestic MCTs run from 25 minutes (AMS) to over an hour at no-airside hubs like LAX (70 min), with most major US and European hubs in the 30-55 minute band. Peak customs waits range from 15 minutes (SIN, MDW) to 60 minutes (JFK).

Minimum connection times and customs wait times by airport, sortable and filterable
Airport Domestic-to-domestic minimum connection time. The shortest layover an airline will sell as a single ticket between two domestic flights at this airport. International-to-domestic minimum connection time. The shortest layover an airline will sell as a single ticket when arriving on an international flight and connecting to a domestic one. Includes time to clear customs. Typical wait at customs and immigration during peak hours, usually mid-morning and early afternoon when international arrivals cluster. Typical customs and immigration wait at quieter times, usually early morning or late evening. Airside Yes means all terminals are connected inside security, so you can change terminals without exiting and re-clearing TSA.
ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 55 min 90 min 40 min 15 min Yes
DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 15 min Yes
DEN Denver International Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min Yes
ORD O'Hare International Airport 30 min 90 min 50 min 20 min No
LAX Los Angeles International Airport 70 min 120 min 55 min 20 min No
JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport 30 min 90 min 60 min 25 min No
CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 12 min Yes
LAS Harry Reid International Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 15 min Yes
MCO Orlando International Airport 30 min 90 min 40 min 15 min No
MIA Miami International Airport 30 min 90 min 50 min 18 min No
PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 12 min No
SEA Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 30 min 90 min 40 min 15 min Yes
SFO San Francisco International Airport 50 min 105 min 45 min 18 min Yes
EWR Newark Liberty International Airport 30 min 90 min 50 min 20 min No
IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport 30 min 90 min 45 min 18 min Yes
BOS Boston Logan International Airport 30 min 90 min 40 min 15 min No
MSP Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 12 min No
FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min Yes
LGA LaGuardia Airport 30 min 90 min N/A N/A No
DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min No
PHL Philadelphia International Airport 40 min 90 min 40 min 15 min Yes
SLC Salt Lake City International Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 35 min 75 min 25 min 12 min Yes
IAD Washington Dulles International Airport 30 min 90 min 40 min 15 min Yes
SAN San Diego International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 12 min No
DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
TPA Tampa International Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
BNA Nashville International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
AUS Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
HNL Daniel K. Inouye International Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min Yes
MDW Chicago Midway International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
PDX Portland International Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
SMF Sacramento International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min No
RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min No
SJC Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 8 min Yes
MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
OAK Oakland International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min No
STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min No
CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport 40 min 60 min 20 min 10 min Yes
PIT Pittsburgh International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
IND Indianapolis International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
MCI Kansas City International Airport 45 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
RSW Southwest Florida International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
SNA John Wayne Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
SAT San Antonio International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
JAX Jacksonville International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min Yes
BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport 30 min 90 min N/A N/A No
ONT Ontario International Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 8 min No
LHR London Heathrow Airport 30 min 90 min 45 min 15 min No
CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min No
AMS Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 25 min 50 min 30 min 10 min Yes
FRA Frankfurt Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 10 min No
MUC Munich Airport 30 min 90 min 35 min 12 min No
MAD Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 10 min No
FCO Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport 45 min 60 min 30 min 10 min Yes
LIS Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon) 30 min 90 min 30 min 10 min No
IST Istanbul Airport 45 min 90 min 25 min 10 min Yes
BCN Barcelona-El Prat Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min No
ZRH Zurich Airport 40 min 50 min 30 min 10 min Yes
DXB Dubai International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
DOH Hamad International Airport 30 min 90 min 20 min 10 min Yes
SIN Singapore Changi Airport 30 min 90 min 15 min 5 min Yes
HKG Hong Kong International Airport 60 min 60 min 20 min 10 min Yes
NRT Narita International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 10 min No
HND Tokyo Haneda Airport 30 min 90 min 25 min 10 min No
ICN Incheon International Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 10 min No
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport 30 min 90 min 30 min 12 min No
YVR Vancouver International Airport 40 min 110 min 25 min 10 min Yes
MEL Melbourne Airport 75 min 150 min 40 min 15 min No
YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport 120 min 120 min 30 min 10 min No
MEX Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport 45 min 120 min 35 min 12 min No
LGW London Gatwick Airport 60 min 60 min 45 min 15 min No
DUB Dublin Airport 45 min 45 min 30 min 10 min Yes
MAN Manchester Airport 30 min 120 min 40 min 15 min No
AKL Auckland Airport 20 min 90 min 40 min 15 min No

MCT = minimum connection time (the published floor airlines use when selling a connection on a single ticket; varies by carrier). Customs times are airport-specific estimates for the typical traveler without trusted-traveler status. BUR and LGA have no meaningful international service and show no customs data. Last verified .

In-depth connection guides by hub

The table above gives the published minimum connection time for every airport. For the busiest connecting hubs, these guides go deeper: terminal-by-terminal transfers, customs and re-screen timing, and how much to actually pad beyond the MCT floor.

ATL 55/90 min MCT

Every concourse connects airside via the Plane Train, so the published floors actually hold.

Read the guide →
JFK 30/90 min MCT

AirTrain between terminals and no airside connections: pad 90 min domestic, 3 hours international-to-domestic.

Read the guide →
FRA 30/90 min MCT

A Schengen advantage and a 2-minute SkyLine make FRA easy. The catch is re-screening between terminals.

Read the guide →
CDG 30/90 min MCT

The Schengen shortcut Heathrow lacks, but terminal sprawl and the landside CDGVAL train are the real time sink.

Read the guide →
LHR 30/90 min MCT

No terminals are airside-connected: every transfer is a bus plus a full security re-screen.

Read the guide →
YYZ 120/120 min MCT

A 120-minute published floor, the highest we track, but Air Canada files 60-75 min same-terminal. Two borders in one building.

Read the guide →
DOH 30/90 min MCT

One airside terminal, 1-14 minute walks, document-free transfers. The 90-minute floor prices the re-screen queue, not distance.

Read the guide →
HKG 60/60 min MCT

The only mega-hub with a flat 60-minute floor for every connection type, and it mostly holds. Watch Midfield gates and SkyPier deadlines.

Read the guide →
HND 30/90 min MCT

JAL domestic in T1, ANA in T2, international in T3, connected landside only. The airline picked your terminal when you booked.

Read the guide →
SEA 30/90 min MCT

One terminal, everything airside, and Delta files a 30-minute minimum. International arrivals are a bags-first border: the airport itself says 2-3 hours.

Read the guide →
SFO 50/105 min MCT

Every terminal now connects airside via post-security walkways. The building earned your trust; the fog has not.

Read the guide →
NRT 30/90 min MCT

Sterile international transit with airside transfer buses, done properly. The catch: the airport closes overnight.

Read the guide →
AMS 25/50 min MCT

One terminal and a 50-minute international-to-domestic floor that mostly holds. Schengen passport queues are the variable.

Read the guide →
SIN 30/90 min MCT

T1-T3 connect airside and 45-60 minutes is realistic there; Terminal 4 rides a shuttle and earns its own padding.

Read the guide →
DXB 30/90 min MCT

T1 and T3 are airside and comfortable in 60-90 minutes. Terminal 2 is a separate building, and its 3-hour worst case is real.

Read the guide →
IST 45/90 min MCT

One enormous terminal: 60-75 minutes near your gates, 90-plus across the far piers. Distance is the whole story.

Read the guide →
ICN 30/90 min MCT

Easy within one terminal; the T1-T2 transfer is a landside shuttle that quietly costs about two hours.

Read the guide →
LIS 30/90 min MCT

Fast intra-Schengen connections in Terminal 1. EES border queues and the landside-only Terminal 2 are the traps.

Read the guide →
ORD 30/90 min MCT

A 30-minute domestic floor and mostly-airside concourses; Terminal 5 is the separate-building exception.

Read the guide →
LAX 70/120 min MCT

The hardest major US hub: nine terminals, mostly landside transfers, the steepest published floors in the country.

Read the guide →
DFW 30/90 min MCT

Skylink connects all five terminals airside every two minutes, which makes DFW one of the easiest US hubs.

Read the guide →
DEN 30/90 min MCT

One terminal, three concourses on a 24/7 underground train, and United files 40-minute minimums. Weather is the only catch.

Read the guide →
CLT 30/90 min MCT

Five concourses, all airside on foot through one atrium, no train. Arguably the most predictable hub in the group.

Read the guide →
MIA 30/90 min MCT

Only partially airside: plan by your concourse pair and arrival type, not the low published floor. Customs peaks past 50 minutes.

Read the guide →
IAH 30/90 min MCT

The airside Skyway train links all five terminals behind security. Just do not board the landside Subway by mistake.

Read the guide →
EWR 30/90 min MCT

United within Terminal C or A-C avoids re-screening; everyone else rides the AirTrain landside. Northeast weather is the wildcard.

Read the guide →
All hubs ranked

Every major hub ranked by minimum connection time, customs speed, and airside connectivity. SIN and AMS win; JFK and LHR cost the most buffer.

See the ranking →

Common layover scenarios

Quick answers to the most common layover questions, computed against real MCT data. For a personalized verdict with your exact airport and timing, use the calculator above.

Is 60 minutes enough at JFK domestic-to-domestic?

Tight

JFK's airport-standard domestic-to-domestic MCT is 30 minutes, so a same-terminal connection clears it with room to spare. The catch is that no JFK terminals are airside-connected: a terminal change means exiting security, riding the AirTrain, and re-clearing TSA, which eats 30+ minutes. On a 60-minute layover that lands you in a different terminal, the margin is thin, especially at peak TSA times.

Is 90 minutes enough at ATL international-to-domestic?

Tight

ATL's airport-standard international-to-domestic MCT is 90 minutes, so a 90-minute layover sits right at the published floor with no spare buffer. What saves it: every concourse is airside-connected via the Plane Train, so once you clear customs in Concourse F there is no re-screening. Off-peak customs runs about 15 minutes; during peak European arrivals (2-5 PM), 90 minutes is genuinely tight. Delta files its own same-airline connections at 85 minutes.

Is 1 hour enough at LAX with a terminal change?

Below MCT

LAX's airport-standard domestic-to-domestic MCT is 70 minutes. Most inter-terminal transfers require a landside walk or shuttle and full TSA re-screening (10-25 min transfer + 15-35 min TSA). At 60 minutes for a terminal change you are 10 minutes under the published floor, so airlines will not sell it on a single ticket and a self-transfer is risky. The airside T4-TBIT and T6-T7/8 connectors are the only exceptions.

Is 45 minutes enough at DEN domestic?

Comfortable

DEN's domestic-to-domestic MCT is only 30 minutes, one of the shortest among major US hubs. All three concourses (A, B, C) are airside-connected via an underground train running every 2-3 minutes. With 45 minutes you have a 15-minute buffer, which is comfortable for any domestic connection.

Is 2 hours enough at ORD international-to-domestic?

Comfortable

ORD's international-to-domestic MCT is 90 minutes. Terminal 5 handles most international arrivals, and transferring to domestic terminals (1, 2, or 3) requires the ATS people mover plus TSA re-screening. Peak customs can hit 50 minutes. With 120 minutes, you have a 30-minute buffer, comfortable even during peak hours.

Is 75 minutes enough at LHR Terminal 3 to Terminal 5?

Below MCT

LHR's international-to-international MCT is 90 minutes. A T3-to-T5 transfer requires exiting through UK Border Force, taking the free inter-terminal bus (25 min), and re-clearing security. At 75 minutes, you are 15 minutes below MCT, so airlines will not sell this connection on a single ticket.

Is 90 minutes enough at SIN international-to-international?

Comfortable

Singapore Changi's airport-standard international-to-international MCT is 90 minutes, so a 90-minute layover is right at the published floor. In practice it connects comfortably: Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are airside-connected via the Skytrain (2-3 min rides) and transit passengers do not clear immigration. The exception is Terminal 4, which is separate and needs a landside shuttle, so split-terminal connections run tighter.

Is 45 minutes enough at CLT domestic?

Comfortable

CLT's airport-standard domestic-to-domestic MCT is just 30 minutes, one of the lowest in the US. All concourses (A through E) connect airside through the central Atrium; the longest walk (A to E) is about 18 minutes. With 45 minutes you clear the MCT comfortably even after that walk.

Is 50 minutes enough at DFW with a terminal change?

Comfortable

DFW's airport-standard domestic-to-domestic MCT is 30 minutes. All five terminals (A through E) are airside-connected via the Skylink train, which runs every 2 minutes and takes 6-14 minutes depending on the terminal pair. With 50 minutes you have a comfortable buffer even after Skylink transfer time.

Is 90 minutes enough at MIA international-to-domestic?

Tight

MIA's international-to-domestic MCT is 90 minutes. You are exactly at MCT. MIA is a major Latin American and Caribbean gateway, and peak customs waits reach 50 minutes. The upside: all terminals are airside-connected, so no re-screening after customs. Off-peak, 90 minutes is workable; during peak, it is tight.

Is 1 hour enough at EWR with a terminal change?

Tight

EWR's airport-standard domestic-to-domestic MCT is 30 minutes, but terminals are NOT airside-connected. A terminal change means the AirTrain Newark (10-15 min) plus full TSA re-screening (10-30 min at peak). On a 60-minute layover that realistically leaves only a slim margin, and if TSA lines are long you could miss your flight.

Is 2 hours enough at SFO international-to-domestic?

Comfortable

SFO's airport-standard international-to-domestic MCT is 105 minutes. Non-precleared international arrivals claim bags, clear CBP at the International Terminal, recheck, and pass a security checkpoint; once screened, every terminal is reachable airside via post-security walkways (per SFO's official guidance, all terminals are now airside-connected). With 120 minutes you have about a 15-minute margin over the floor, workable for most connections but not generous during peak customs.

Is 90 minutes enough at CDG international-to-international?

Tight

CDG's international-to-international MCT is 90 minutes. At exactly MCT, this is tight. Transfers between Terminal 1, T2, and T3 require the CDGVAL automated train (landside) and full re-screening. Non-Schengen immigration queues can add 35 minutes at peak. Schengen-to-Schengen transfers within T2 are faster since you skip passport control.

Customs wait times by region

International arrivals must clear immigration and customs, adding anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes depending on the airport, time of day, and whether you have a trusted-traveler program (Global Entry, eGates, SmartGates). These are typical wait times, not guaranteed maximums.

United States

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires all international arrivals to clear customs at their first US port of entry, even on connecting itineraries. Global Entry holders can clear in under 10 minutes via automated kiosks at most airports.

Peak wait
15-60 min
Off-peak wait
8-25 min
Airports covered
50
ATL DFW DEN ORD LAX JFK CLT LAS MCO MIA +40 more

Europe

Schengen-zone arrivals from other Schengen countries skip passport control entirely. Non-Schengen arrivals face immigration queues. PARAFE (France), EasyPASS (Germany), and eGates (UK) are the main automated fast-track programs.

Peak wait
25-45 min
Off-peak wait
10-15 min
Airports covered
14
LHR CDG AMS FRA MUC MAD FCO LIS IST BCN +4 more

Asia-Pacific

Major Asian hubs are among the fastest for immigration processing. Singapore Changi regularly clears passengers in under 5 minutes off-peak. Automated lanes are available at most large airports for eligible nationalities.

Peak wait
15-40 min
Off-peak wait
5-15 min
Airports covered
11
SEA HNL PDX SIN HKG NRT HND ICN SYD MEL +1 more

Middle East, Canada & Latin America

Canadian airports with US Preclearance (Toronto, Vancouver) let you clear US customs before departure, arriving as a domestic passenger. Dubai and Doha are major connecting hubs where transit passengers often skip immigration entirely.

Peak wait
20-35 min
Off-peak wait
10-12 min
Airports covered
5
DXB DOH YVR YYZ MEX

How the calculator works

  1. 1. MCT lookup. Every airport publishes a minimum connection time (MCT) for four scenarios: domestic-to-domestic, domestic-to-international, international-to-domestic, and international-to-international. The calculator loads the correct MCT for your connection type.
  2. 2. Terminal transfer time. If your connection involves a terminal change, the calculator adds the walking or train/shuttle time. Multi-terminal airports use terminal-pair-specific data (e.g., JFK T1 to T4 via AirTrain = 15 min, SIN T1 to T4 via shuttle = 15 min). Single-terminal airports use the airport-wide average.
  3. 3. Customs and immigration. International arrivals must clear border control (CBP in the US, eGates at LHR, SmartGates at SYD, etc.). The calculator adds an airport-specific customs buffer (peak or off-peak) for all 77 airports.
  4. 4. TSA re-screening. If you leave the secure area (required at airports without airside connections), the calculator adds the airport's typical TSA wait time for the selected time of day.
  5. 5. Checked-bag recheck. International arrivals with checked bags must collect, clear customs, and recheck bags. This adds approximately 20 minutes.

Airports with the most reliable transfer times between gates

Every terminal is connected airside, so gate-to-gate transfers stay inside security with predictable train or walking times. No shuttles, no re-screening, no variance.

  1. DEN Denver International 30 min MCT

    All concourses airside-connected via underground train

  2. CLT Charlotte Douglas 35 min MCT

    All concourses connect through central Atrium

  3. DFW Dallas/Fort Worth 35 min MCT

    Skylink train connects all terminals airside

  4. SIN Singapore Changi 45 min MCT

    T1-T3 connected via Skytrain, fast immigration

  5. ATL Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson 40 min MCT

    Plane Train connects all concourses airside

Airports to avoid for tight connections

These airports have the longest MCTs, no airside connections, or notoriously slow customs.

  1. JFK New York JFK 60 min MCT

    No airside connections, AirTrain + TSA for every terminal change

  2. LHR London Heathrow 60 min MCT

    Inter-terminal bus (landside), UK Border Force + re-screening

  3. CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle 60 min MCT

    CDGVAL train between terminals, landside transfers

  4. ORD Chicago O'Hare 45 min MCT

    Terminal 5 to domestic requires ATS + TSA, peak customs 50 min

  5. LAX Los Angeles International 45 min MCT

    Most terminal changes require landside walk + TSA

All 77 supported airports

Every airport with verified minimum connection times, customs estimates, and terminal transfer data.

ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ★ DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ★ DEN Denver International Airport ★ ORD O'Hare International Airport ★ LAX Los Angeles International Airport ★ JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport ★ CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport ★ LAS Harry Reid International Airport ★ MCO Orlando International Airport ★ MIA Miami International Airport ★ PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ★ SEA Seattle-Tacoma International Airport ★ SFO San Francisco International Airport ★ EWR Newark Liberty International Airport ★ IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport ★ BOS Boston Logan International Airport ★ MSP Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ★ FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ★ LGA LaGuardia Airport ★ DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport ★ PHL Philadelphia International Airport SLC Salt Lake City International Airport BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport IAD Washington Dulles International Airport SAN San Diego International Airport DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport TPA Tampa International Airport BNA Nashville International Airport AUS Austin-Bergstrom International Airport HNL Daniel K. Inouye International Airport MDW Chicago Midway International Airport PDX Portland International Airport SMF Sacramento International Airport RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport SJC Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport OAK Oakland International Airport STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport PIT Pittsburgh International Airport IND Indianapolis International Airport CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport MCI Kansas City International Airport RSW Southwest Florida International Airport SNA John Wayne Airport SAT San Antonio International Airport ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport JAX Jacksonville International Airport BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport ONT Ontario International Airport LHR London Heathrow Airport CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport AMS Amsterdam Airport Schiphol FRA Frankfurt Airport MUC Munich Airport MAD Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport FCO Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport LIS Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon) IST Istanbul Airport BCN Barcelona-El Prat Airport ZRH Zurich Airport DXB Dubai International Airport DOH Hamad International Airport SIN Singapore Changi Airport HKG Hong Kong International Airport NRT Narita International Airport HND Tokyo Haneda Airport ICN Incheon International Airport SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport YVR Vancouver International Airport MEL Melbourne Airport YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport MEX Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport LGW London Gatwick Airport DUB Dublin Airport MAN Manchester Airport AKL Auckland Airport

Frequently asked questions

What is minimum connection time (MCT)?

Minimum connection time is the published floor an airline or GDS will use when selling two flights as a single-ticket connection at a given airport. It is a commercial threshold (not a legal one) and varies by connection type and by carrier. The authoritative per-carrier values live in the OAG MCT manual and are visible to consumers through ExpertFlyer or the airline's own MCT page. The value we display is an airport-wide simplification of that. A domestic MCT might be 35 minutes at an efficient hub like CLT but 60 minutes at JFK where every terminal change requires the AirTrain and TSA re-screening. If your layover is shorter than the carrier's MCT, the airline will not sell it as one ticket.

What is the difference between MCT and the suggested buffer?

MCT is the floor an airline will sell a connection at. Our suggested buffer adds real-world padding for terminal transfer time, customs and immigration (if arriving internationally), TSA re-screening (if you leave the secure area), and checked-bag rechecking. A 45-minute domestic MCT at ORD might carry an 80-minute suggested buffer if you are changing terminals, because the ATS people mover and re-screening add time the MCT does not account for. The buffer is our estimate, not a sourced figure.

Do I need to clear customs on a connecting flight through the US?

Yes. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires all passengers arriving on international flights to clear customs at their first US port of entry, even if you have a connecting domestic flight. You will collect your checked bags, clear customs, recheck your bags, and re-clear TSA security. The exception is flights from US preclearance airports (Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi, and several Canadian cities) where you clear US customs before departure and arrive as a domestic passenger.

How long does customs take at US airports?

It depends on the airport and time of day. At major hubs, peak-hour customs wait times range from 30 to 60 minutes. Off-peak waits are typically 8 to 25 minutes. Global Entry holders can often clear in under 10 minutes via automated kiosks. This calculator uses airport-specific customs estimates for all 77 airports, including equivalent fast-track programs at international hubs (eGates at LHR, SmartGates at SYD, PARAFE at CDG, etc.).

What counts as a same-terminal connection?

A same-terminal connection means your arriving and departing gates are in the same terminal building or concourse. You stay airside (inside security) and walk to your next gate. At airports where all concourses are airside-connected, like ATL via the Plane Train or DFW via Skylink, even "different concourse" connections are effectively same-terminal since you never leave the secure area.

Do I have to re-clear TSA security during a connection?

Only if you leave the secure area. At airports with airside connections between all terminals (ATL, DFW, DEN, IAH, MIA, FLL), you stay inside security for any domestic connection. At airports without airside connections (JFK, LAX, ORD Terminal 5, EWR, BOS), changing terminals means exiting security, taking a train or shuttle, and re-clearing TSA. International arrivals always require customs, which puts you landside.

What happens if my checked bag does not make a tight connection?

If you booked a single itinerary and the airline sold you the connection, they are responsible for forwarding your bag on the next available flight at no charge. Short-check bags (tagged only to the connecting airport, not your final destination) are your responsibility to collect and recheck. On separate tickets, the airline has no obligation to transfer your bag.

Is a 1-hour layover long enough?

It depends entirely on the airport and connection type. At a compact, airside-connected hub like CLT or DEN, 60 minutes is comfortable for a domestic-to-domestic connection. At JFK or LAX with a terminal change and TSA re-screening, 60 minutes is at or below the published MCT. Use the calculator above with your specific airport and connection details for a personalized answer.

What is the shortest minimum connection time in the US?

Among major US airports, DEN and CLT have the shortest domestic-to-domestic MCTs at 30 and 35 minutes respectively. Both have all concourses connected airside, which eliminates TSA re-screening on domestic connections. By contrast, JFK and LHR have the longest MCTs at 60 minutes for domestic connections, reflecting their size and lack of airside inter-terminal connections.

Which airport has the most reliable transfer times between gates?

Airports with all terminals connected airside have the most reliable gate-to-gate transfer times, because every connection stays inside security with no shuttle waits or TSA re-screening adding variance. Singapore Changi (T1-T3 Skytrain, 2-3 min rides), Atlanta (Plane Train between all concourses), Dallas/Fort Worth (Skylink every 2 min), Denver (underground train every 2-3 min), and Charlotte (central Atrium walk, longest A-to-E is 18 min) are the most predictable. Airports where terminal changes go landside, such as JFK, LAX, EWR, and London Heathrow's inter-terminal bus, have the widest variance: transfer time depends on shuttle schedules and TSA queue length, not on a fixed train interval.

Which airports require international rebag?

All US airports require international arrivals to collect checked bags, clear customs, and recheck bags at the first port of entry. This applies even if your bags were tagged through to a domestic destination. The only exception is flights from US preclearance airports (Toronto, Vancouver, Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi, and others), where you clear US customs before departure and your bags transfer as domestic.

Do US preclearance airports skip customs?

Yes. At US preclearance airports, you clear US Customs and Border Protection before boarding. When you land in the US, you arrive as a domestic passenger: no customs line, no bag recheck, and no TSA re-screening if you are connecting. This effectively saves 30-60 minutes on your connection. Major preclearance airports include Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Dublin (DUB), Shannon (SNN), and Abu Dhabi (AUH).

What is a self-transfer layover?

A self-transfer (also called a self-connect or separate-ticket connection) means you booked two independent tickets and are connecting on your own. The airline has no obligation to transfer your bags, rebook you if you miss the second flight, or wait for you. You must collect your bags, exit the airport, check in again, and clear security. Always add at least 2-3 hours for self-transfer connections.

How does Schengen affect connection time?

Within the Schengen Area (most of mainland Europe), flights between member countries are treated as domestic: no passport control, no immigration queues. If you are flying from a non-Schengen origin (US, UK, etc.) to a Schengen destination via a Schengen hub like Frankfurt or Amsterdam, you clear immigration at your first Schengen airport. Schengen-to-Schengen connections skip passport control entirely, making them significantly faster.

What if I miss my connection?

If you booked a single itinerary and miss your connection due to a late inbound flight, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. This applies even if the delay was weather-related. If you miss it due to your own actions (slow at customs, wrong gate), the airline may rebook you standby or charge a change fee depending on your fare class. On separate tickets, you have no protection and must buy a new ticket.

Methodology and data sources

Minimum connection times (MCT) shown here are airport-wide approximations curated from each airport's published connection guidance and operational publications. In industry use, MCT is per-carrier and per-connection-type; the authoritative source is the OAG MCT manual, which consumers can view through ExpertFlyer or the airline's own MCT page. For a booking decision, verify with your airline. The value here is a planning estimate, not an airline-specific quote.

Terminal transfer times are measured from gate area to gate area, including walking, waiting for trains or shuttles, and any security re-screening. Multi-terminal airports use terminal-pair-specific data collected from airport websites, terminal maps, and verified traveler reports.

Customs and immigration wait times are estimated from CBP Airport Wait Times data (US airports), UK Border Force statistics (LHR), and equivalent government sources for international airports. Peak and off-peak ranges reflect typical conditions, not worst-case scenarios.

TSA wait times are drawn from TSA's published checkpoint wait data, supplemented by crowdsourced reports. PreCheck, CLEAR, and Global Entry holders typically experience shorter waits.

Last updated . Data is verified against primary sources on a rolling basis. Individual airport pages link to their specific source URLs.

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