How much time do you need for an international layover?
Two to three hours is generally the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but in some cases that might not even be sufficient
Most airlines recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three hours before international flights. But do you need that much time for connections between international flights?
Layovers of just 30 minutes can be feasible for domestic flights, especially at small airports where the next flight might be just one gate over. But international layovers are typically far more complicated, and even two hours can be insufficient. Here’s how to book flights with an international layover, and how much time you really need.
WAYS TO BOOK A FLIGHT WITH AN INTERNATIONAL LAYOVER
Let’s say you’re flying from Houston to Hanoi, Vietnam. There might be no direct flights between those two cities, but you could get there via layover.
