Is This Connection Long Enough? A Practical Guide to Layovers for Families
This is one of those questions that comes up again and again on family travel forums:
“Is this connection long enough?”
Usually it’s being asked while someone is staring at a flight itinerary, children in mind, and a creeping sense of doubt.
The honest answer is that it’s not just about how many minutes you have between flights. It’s about whether your flights are protected, what happens if something goes wrong, how baggage and immigration work — and what moving through an airport actually feels like when you’re travelling as a family.
With 30 years in the travel industry and lots of experience helping families travel more smoothly, here’s the real-world way to think about airport connections and layovers.
Quick answer if you are short on time:
- If your flights are on a through ticket, the airline won’t sell you a connection that’s officially too short.
- If you’re travelling on separate tickets, your connection or layover is not protected — missing the next flight is your risk.
- When travelling with children, slightly longer layovers often make the journey calmer and more enjoyable.
1. What is guaranteed if you have a through ticket
If you book a flight with a connection on a single ticket — for example Atlanta – Charlotte – London — the airline is responsible for getting you from start to finish.
Airlines follow global minimum connection times set by IATA (the International Air Transport Association). These vary depending on whether your flights are domestic or international, whether you’re changing terminals, and whether you’re switching airlines. The key point is this: you cannot buy a through ticket that breaks these rules.
Airlines also design their schedules around connections. They want you to make them. That’s why, if you’re delayed, they may help you off the aircraft first, direct you to your next gate, or even hold the connecting flight briefly.
Most importantly, if something does go wrong, the airline is responsible for rebooking you and arranging meals or accommodation if needed. For families, that peace of mind matters a lot.
2. What is NOT guaranteed with airport connections
If you’re travelling on separate tickets, nothing is guaranteed.
If your first flight is delayed and you miss the second one, the airline does not have to help you. You may lose the value of your ticket and have to buy a new flight.
Other differences matter too. Your baggage is unlikely to be checked through, and on international journeys you may need to clear immigration, collect bags, and recheck them — even if you’re flying the same airline.
Minimum connection times do not apply to separate tickets. Airlines don’t know you’re connecting, so they can’t plan for you or protect you.
People do make separate-ticket connections successfully, often because they’re cheaper. But it’s a calculated risk — and one that feels very different when travelling with children.
3. What is best for your family?
When people ask if a connection is long enough, the most important part of the answer is personal.
You might remember sprinting through an airport to make a 45-minute connection — but you were probably travelling alone, without bags, and at peak energy. That experience doesn’t translate well to moving three children through a busy terminal when someone needs the toilet or falls asleep.
When searching for flights, use the layover or stopover filters (example on trip.com below) and give yourself a comfort buffer. Yes, it may reduce your options — but it often improves the journey.
Longer layovers can be a positive thing. Time for food, a stretch, a play area, or just a breather. Shortest isn’t always best.
Final Thoughts
Through tickets offer the most protection and peace of mind
Separate tickets can save money but come with real risk
The best layover is the one that reduces stress for your family
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