Are you a 1-hour or 3-hour layover kind of guy?

[JParm]

My wife lives by the seat of her pants and when booking trips, she's ok with those 36-minute layovers. I, on the other hand, do not trust airlines and prefer at least an hour and half cushion for delays, etc.

Had to update our upcoming flights and it was truly a tough decision for me between the 1 hr 6 minute layover versus the 3 hr 38 minute one...with my wife away for work and the decision up to me, can you tell which way I went?

So which court are you in, provided direct flights are not available?

[Chewbacca]

3

Bars, shopping, restrooms I can fit in, ease of movement.

[Atone]

I’m with you. I’d take the one with a tad more time. Especially nowadays

[dubins930]

3… I like getting a coffee and wandering a bit/stretch my
Legs

[macrowatch]

Depends on the airport. Great airport, 3 hours, maybe even 5! Bad airport, ASAP.

[Bluside]

Things are not the same in the airline industry as they were a few years ago.

Give yourself more time.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

3

Bars, shopping, restrooms I can fit in, ease of movement.

I’d take you for a private jet guy Chewie

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by mailman

I’d take you for a private jet guy Chewie

It’s a private airport and my PJs need maintenance and gas and bar stock. Should’ve mentioned it. Sorry.

[uscmatt99]

We aim for 2 hours, and I'll take 3 over 1. 4 hours, and I may think of risking the 1 hour layover depending on the airport.

We just transited through LHR from Denmark to Chicago. Even being first batch off the plane, it was 1:15 to get to our next gate with everything timing out perfectly, not counting a short 15 minute lounge visit. Deplane on the tarmac even though there are open gates with jetways. Shuttle bus to terminal 5 doorway. Multiple escalators to get to another bus to terminal 3. Bus ride was insanely long, packed to the gills. How far away are these terminals?!? Asinine security measures immediately follow. Sweatshirt off, all devices in the tray, belt off, still set off the alarm, now shoes off. All clear. Redress and repack the bag. Long walk to the AMEX lounge. Second long walk to the end of terminal 3. Then they announce Groups 1-4 boarding all at once as first class passengers lose their minds.

My wife and I were joking it was faster to get from our hotel in Copenhagen to Malmo, counting walking and train, than it was getting from one plane to the next in London.

[sickened1]

For me, the less, the better. I just want to get to the destination ASAP even if that means i'd have to run to catch the next flight at another terminal after 11 hours flight from the US (and I've done this a few times in Japan, Thailand, etc).

[kieselguhr]

Depends on the airport. We purposely planned for a 8 hour layover in Dubai so we can get some extra sightseeing. Also if we happen to layover in changi or HK, we’ll try to get a few hours to visit family quickly and then back on the trip.

[Tools]

1 hour would be nice if the gates were side-by-side and the world was perfect.

However, by the time you get parked, doors opened and you're off the plane, then make your way to another gate, that could be a long way away, you are already at pre-boarding time and they close the doors 10 minutes before departure time.

If you like living on the edge, go for it.

I prefer to hit the head, pick up a Cinnabon, and stretch the legs for bit. Peace of mind is worth something, I'll take the 3 hours.

[1st amg]

Would love to think that the short layover is the right choice, but, too many times that I would like to remember that we are running from gate to gate and missing the flights, and if we do board, there is a very big possibility that the bags won’t make it on that connector.
I would take the 3 hour and just enjoy and relax. Do some walking, shopping and just plain old people watching is entertaining.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shmoopy]

So many variables. What airport? Is there checked luggage involved? Is it domestic or international connection? Are there any flights afterwards if I bone it and miss it? Is there an Air France La Premiere salon there? lol

I tend to not want to spend more than an hour waiting, if possible.

What's the old saying? If you have never missed a flight, you spend too much time inside airports. lol.

[enjoythemusic]

Depends, am I single or married?

[Stan Cooper]

I'm fine with an hour and a half layovers. I've never missed a connecting flight yet due to delays.

For the last ten years of my working career, I traveled internationally about half of the time and spent the other half in my California office.

[Hollie_Rollie]

3 hour. Been flying a ton lately on American Airlines…anything less than an hour is risky lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HHIslander]

Domestically, one hour unless the connecting airport is in Northeast or Chicago. Internationally, at least three. Much more to do in most international airports. US airports really don’t compare.

[Spartacus]

I avoid connecting flights like the plague. Sometimes I drive the final leg if it’s an option.

[Cryten]

Type MIA/KMIA into a flight status website.

I see 33 canceled, 111 delayed and 7 diverted (many those are codeshare, but it's still a good total).

Make sure you know the weather, local conditions, and airline status before making it too tight.

With delays like that, you aren't getting on the next flight......or the next 10 after that.

[brandrea]

We are definitely of the same mind … we’d take the 3 hours, have a couple of Martinis maybe shop and people watch. Travel for us is all about no stress

[JParm]

Lounges are our best friends for the long layovers (especially with kids), but they are definitely getting more and more crowded as of late. The Centurion lounge has been especially packed, we've noticed.

It's as if we all have the same credit cards or something...

[austinp]

As short as possible. Anything over an hour is good with me. I want to get to where I’m going and I don’t like airports.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by JParm

Lounges are our best friends for the long layovers (especially with kids), but they are definitely getting more and more crowded as of late. The Centurion lounge has been especially packed, we've noticed.

It's as if we all have the same credit cards or something...

The lounges are more packed than the general terminal these days. I really bother anymore. Once you learn the peak times, escaping to an empty gate is usually more relaxing than some oversubscribed lounge.

[RyanJ]

Originally Posted by brandrea

We are definitely of the same mind … we’d take the 3 hours, have a couple of Martinis maybe shop and people watch. Travel for us is all about no stress

Same. I travel with only carry-ons and have no problem with a few hour lay over.

I either pay more for direct flights or I pick my connecting airport very carefully. I basically make the choice of which connecting airport based on where I would want to be stuck at for the day/night.

I want as little stress as possible.

[NYC6]

I’m not running through an airport trying to catch a connection flight like a former nfl guy who’s name I don’t care to mention. Give me a 1.5 or 2 hrs to get out of the cramped tube, hit the head, get some decent food and drink and stretch my legs.

[Andad]

With QANTAS in Oz plan on seven days with no baggage on transfers.

[donas]

I prefer an hour or more. That's a tough call with the two options you provided. I'd be nervous but would risk the 1hr 6 min layover if those were my only choices.

[Moondoggy]

3, bloody mary time

[HL65]

1 hour.