There’s no need to worry about flight connections. If your journey is with the same airline, or is part of an airline alliance, you’ll find that a flight connection can be simple and straightforward. Here, we share more on how connecting flights work and shed light on some common concerns.

A connecting flight is part of a single flight ticket, and making the connection is easy. If you’re on an internal connection, simply get off the plane and find where your next flight departs from, then make your way to the gate when it’s time to board. If the connecting flight is on another airline or another terminal, you must go through a security and baggage check before you get on board the connecting flight.

A transit visa may be required for your flight connection depending on where you are, your nationality, how long your layover is, and your final destination. Check the rules for the country you’re connecting in for details.

Yes, in most cases. Whether you need to go through security again during a connection depends on the airport and the type of connection you're making. For domestic-to-domestic connections within India, you generally do not need to clear security again if you remain in the secure departure area of the airport. However, if you need to change terminals, you may have to exit and re-enter the security zone, so factor in extra time for this. For international connections, the rules vary by country and airport. If you are transiting through an international hub and staying airside — meaning you do not pass through immigration — you will typically go through a security screening but not immigration. If your connection requires you to collect your baggage and re-check it, or if you need to pass through immigration and customs, you should expect to go through the full security process again. The safest approach is to check the specific requirements of your connecting airport before you travel, and always allow more time between flights than you think you'll need.

When you book a flight ticket that includes a connecting flight, your baggage should be transferred for you. You won’t need to collect this and check it back in. However, this may not always be the case if you’re switching airlines or if you are connecting through the United States.

If your first flight is delayed by a few minutes, the airline may arrange for the connecting flight to wait before closing the gates. Otherwise, passengers will be re-booked onto later flights and may be entitled to compensation.

If you miss a connecting flight, go straight to your airline's customer service desk. If both flights were on a single ticket, the airline must rebook you on the next available service at no extra cost. If your flights were booked separately, you'll need to buy a new ticket, though it's always worth explaining the situation to staff as they may offer flexibility. Either way, hold on to all your boarding passes and delay documentation, and check your travel insurance policy as missed connections are often covered.

If your first flight is delayed and causes you to miss your connecting flight with the same airline, it’s their responsibility to ensure you’re booked onto the next available flight. You may also be entitled to food vouchers, accommodation, or monetary compensation depending on the length of delay.

Missing a connecting flight with a different airline is a little trickier, especially if the flights weren’t booked as one journey. It will then be up to you to arrange an onward flight. Always leave plenty of time for a flight connection if you’re booking the flights separately.

Airlines typically don't hold flights for delayed passengers as this can negatively impact their schedule. However, a connecting flight may be held for a short period if your first flight was delayed through no fault of your own and is with the same airline (or part of an airline alliance).

If you’ve booked your journey on one ticket, your luggage should be moved onto your next flight, even if it’s changed due to missing your connection. Check with an airline representative at the airport to confirm this is the case and follow their lost luggage procedure if your bag doesn’t arrive.