What is minimum connection time at airports? Where can you find minimum connecting time for a given airport? I'm sometimes asked by clients whether they'll have enough time to connect at an airport, or what is a legal connection time. This varies from airport to airport and depends on the kind of connection you're making, so I thought a post would be helpful.
Minimum Connection Times Vary Depending on the Connection Type
As you'd expect, in addition to varying by airport, minimum connection time depends on the type of connection you're making:
- International to International (II)
- International to Domestic (ID)
- Domestic to International (DI)
- Domestic to Domestic (DD)
Where to Find Minimum Connection Times for Airports
While you could certainly call your airline and ask their minimum connection time at a given airport, I use ExpertFlyer to verify airport minimum connection times. You could also use KVS, a similar paid service, although I haven't used it. For ExpertFlyer, after logging in, click on “Travel Information” in the left hand side navigation, then click on the second tab in the upper horizonal navigation, “Min Connect Times.”
You'll then enter in the Connecting Airport, the incoming airline, the outgoing airline, and the type of connection. Here's an example of Los Angeles LAX, arriving on American Airlines and also departing on American: an international to domestic connection. As you can see, 2 hours are required as minimum connecting time.
Can You Book a Ticket with a Shorter Minimum Connecting Time?
While the airlines can't stop you from booking two separate tickets that result in a shorter connection time than the minimum connection time specified, you will obviously have no protection if you don't make your flight the way you would if you had everything on a single ticket.
And no, you won't be able to have the airline waive the minimum connection time, even if you tell them that you have no checked baggage and have Global Entry. Which brings me to another question I get:
If I Have Global Entry and Don't Check Luggage is There a Different Minimum Connecting Time?
No, there isn't, sorry to say. While in many cases at LAX you could connect from an international flight to a domestic flight in 1 hour 30 minutes if you have Global Entry and no luggage, you won't be able to book this as a single AAdvantage ticket. So if you really want a shorter connection you'd have to book your onward flight as a separate ticket and take the risk of misconnecting.
Examples of Minimum Connection Times at in NYC JFK, LAX, London LHR, Paris CDG, Hong Kong HKG
Here are a few examples of minimum connection times for some of the airports and airlines I get asked about most:
NYC JFK
Airline: American Airlines
- International to International: 2 hours
- International to Domestic: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Domestic to International: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Domestic to Domestic: 1 hour
Los Angeles LAX
Airlines: Cathay Pacific for international and American Airlines for domestic
- International to International: 2 hours
- International to Domestic: 2 hours
- Domestic to International: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Domestic to Domestic: 1 hour 10 minutes
London LHR
Airline: British Airways
- International to International: 1 hour 30 minutes
- International to Domestic: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Domestic to International: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Domestic to Domestic: 45 minutes
Frankfurt FRA
Airline: Lufthansa
- International to International: 45 minutes
- International to Domestic: 45 minutes
- Domestic to International: 45 minutes
- Domestic to Domestic: 45 minutes
Paris CDG
Airline: Air France
- International to International: 1 hour
- International to Domestic: 1 hour
- Domestic to International: 1 hour
- Domestic to Domestic: 1 hour
Hong Kong HKG
Airline: Cathay Pacific
- International to International: 1 hour
What's your experience with airport minimum connection times, have you run into any problems either with tickets or at the airport?
Related Posts
