Taking a Connecting Flight: 5 Things to Avoid
In the world, only the most frequented air routes are available. For example, a flight from Albacete to Easter Island is not in demand at all, so no airline offers it.
On the other hand, some routes are completely saturated, like Madrid to Paris. Every day, there are more than 30 flights on this route, operated by one or several airlines.
But between these two possibilities, we have an alternative: the connecting flight. By linking two or more flights, we can reach many different cities, and the only drawback is that it will take a bit more time than direct flights.
Although connecting flights are a very popular option, they are subject to several rules that we cannot break. To understand them, we have written in this article the 5 things to avoid for a perfect connecting flight.
Let’s begin!
Booking Short Layovers
When we have a layover, we need a lot of time. This includes possible delays of our arrival flight, deplaning, finding the gate for the next flight, etc.
Therefore, the first thing to avoid is booking short layovers. We consider layovers of less than 1.5 hours for domestic flights and less than 2.5 hours for international flights to be short.
However, personal preference greatly influences this decision. Some people prefer to take it easy and have something to eat during the layover, while others cannot sit still for more than an hour.
So, find what suits you best, always keeping in mind that you need at least a few hours of margin to travel comfortably and safely.
Booking with Different Airlines
Another very common mistake is booking with different airlines. If one flight is delayed and you miss the next one, solutions will only be offered if both flights are operated by the same airline.
But if you have an Iberia flight and miss the next one, which is with Air Europa, there’s nothing you can do. You will have to buy a new flight and pay for the ticket again.
So, as much as possible, try to buy all your tickets with the same airline. If there is a problem or delay, you will always be covered and won’t have to undergo additional stress to reach your destination.
Checking Luggage in Certain Cases
There are certain cases where we should not check our luggage. For example, if the layover time we have chosen is insufficient.
If your plane arrives late and you are short on time for the next flight, it is likely that your luggage won’t have time to make the necessary transfer to the next flight. Consequently, it will remain “stuck” at the layover airport.
Once we reach our final destination, our luggage will take at least a few days to be recovered and delivered. In the worst case, it may get lost at the layover airport and not be recoverable.
Another unfavorable situation is when the airlines we are flying with cannot transfer the luggage from one plane to another. In these cases, we would have to retrieve the luggage from the carousel, leave the airport, and go through security again.
This process is tedious, and you will lose a lot of time, so we do not recommend it unless you have a layover of 4 hours or more.
Not Speaking English or the Airport’s Official Language
Once we arrive at the layover airport, we will need to “navigate” its corridors to find the gate for our next flight. Airports always offer their signs in English and the local language.
So, if you do not speak English or the local language, you may encounter difficulties finding your gate. Many middle-aged people who are not trained in English often have problems orienting themselves in foreign airports, and this can be an issue if you have little time.
In the worst case, we can always use the Google Translate app. This app has a camera feature that allows us to translate live what we see, which can be incredibly useful for finding our way in foreign countries.
Not Checking the Gate Before Arrival
Did you know that flight attendants on board your plane can tell you the gate for your next flight? To save time, you can ask them where to head once the plane doors open.
In some airlines, there is a web page (which you can connect to using the in-flight Wi-Fi) that tells you the upcoming departures and their locations in the destination airport. This way, you can see the terminal map and know where to go to save as much time as possible.
If you avoid these 5 mistakes when traveling with layovers, we guarantee you a smooth flight. Have a good trip!
Even in this case, you can miss a layover due to a delay or cancellation of a previous flight. In this case, you are entitled to compensation from the airline. We can help you get it. Click the button below for a free consultation.
