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I hit two of the connecting flight issues on a trip to Cambodia. I booked one flight on United to LA using points and purchased my overseas flight on Eva Air. The LA flight got in late so I was rushed when I landed. I booked two flights on two different tickets. Because I hadn't checked my bags through to my final destination I had to claim my luggage in LA. That was mistake number 1. Mistake number 2 was not realizing that the International terminal in LA was completely separate from the domestic terminal so I had to catch a bus to catch the second flight. Thankfully I just made the second flight. The bonus though was that due to my late check-in, they had given away my seat and ended up bumping me to first class. When I was returning home the check-in person in Cambodia asked if I would like to check my bags to DC. I had no idea they could/would do that. Lessons learned, always check your bags through to your final destination unless you have an extended layover AND always check the airport maps to see if you will need to change terminals or buildings.
If you fly to the USA and have a connecting flight, you can not check in your suitcases to the final destination. The first US airport you land, you will have to do the customs/border control, get your checked in suitcases go through border control and check them back in for your connection flight.
I have a lounge membership and it really helps. Many layovers are way too short. You will miss flights taking short layovers. Take advantage of a lounge and take your time
I agree wholeheartedly! I have a credit card that gives me lounge access, and it comes in super handy. Even if you have to pay to get into lounges, it's often a cost-saver when you think of the free meals/beverages/WiFi and less shopping temptations (ha)
If I buy some liquidy stuff before my connecting flight, I am normally asked if I have a connecting flight when I pay. And if so - they put my items and the receipt in a sealed see through plastic bag, which is meant for this purpose. I thought this was a general rule. And you can safely use the USB charging outlets for charging your power banks. But as you say, it is not necessarily safe to charge the phone there. Thank you for a lot of really great tips 🎉😊
@@NoraDunn I have used the sealed see through plastic bag option only in Europe from several countries to Noway where I live 🙂 I don't know if it is an option in other continents.
Flying from Uk to Australia via Singapore we had a 30 min layover 😅. We made it thankfully but that is not enough time to recover from a 14 hour flight straight onto another long haul ( apart from the 20 min sprint through Changi terminals 😂). By the time we were on the second flight my son had full blown air sickness that had started at the end of the first leg. Next time we have a 24 hour layover on the same route. We shall recover and explore and shower and hopefully sleep 😊.
One time the airline reduced my scheduled 2 hour layover in ATL to 45 min. when they canceled my original planned connecting flight. ATL is huge often with a great distance between the gates for connecting flights. It was very stressful trying to make the connection although we did get to the gate as they were preparing to close the door. I had a severe case of arthritis in my knee (bone on bone) so i did request assistance which did help. 😮
Good thing you had assistance! In my experience the wheelchair aides know the fastest routes, which in some cases include passages not open to the public!
Going from Salt Lake City to Copenhagen, Denmark. First flight to Chicago arrival at 8:36 p.m. and departure to Copenhagen 10:05 p.m. gate closing at 9:35 p.m. on the other side of the airport. This involved going through TSA security where it is never easy for me. Flight was booked by the tour company. There was another flight arriving Chicago about 4 p.m. I asked for that flight. Nope, they wouldn't hear of it. I made the connection but it was stressful. I got wheelchair service because the pusher would know the way through O'Hare where I had to go from one end of the airport to the other in 59 minutes. Got to gate at 9:15 p.m. I hopped into the restroom, filled up my water bottle and boarded the plane at 9:20 p.m.
Whew! Glad you made it. I once had a tight connection through Miami and it was shortly after I had been in a near-fatal accident so I couldn't walk properly. The check-in agent knew the Miami connection was tight and suggested I get wheelchair assistance - and it was a great call! They took me through all kinds of back passages and cut down the time significantly.
Once on a trip to Italy, I made sure I booked a reasonable time between layovers as I didn’t want to be stressed out about transfer flights in a foreign country. On the way back, the flight was delayed in Florence then again in Milan and because of those two delays I missed my connection in Toronto (by 10 min). Fortunately I was able to get on the next connecting flight but it stresses the importance of making sure you have ample time between connections.
I completely agree with the ‘not too short’ layover tip. I’d rather be bored than stressed. Some airports are notorious for connecting flights - Bangkok, Istanbul and Dubai have been problematic for me in the past. The terminal issue is critical too! On a related note check that the airlines will check your luggage all the way through.
I am loving your channel. We have an 8 hour layover coming up in Oslo, and plan to go into the city for a few hours. But the long layover in Newark? We’re planning to hit the SAS lounge! My tip is watch out for the tastings at duty free shops - after a few early morning tastes at the Shannon airport, we bought waaaay more top shelf Irish whiskey than we’d planned!
In my calendar entries for flights I always put the local time and timezone for both departure and arrival along with the flight number in the subject of the event as well as in the time fields, like "United 8844 dep LAX 15:05 PST arr FRA 10:55 CET". That way I have only one place to look and no conversions to remember. Using 24-hour time ensures I don't overlook AM or PM and lines up with the way times are shown in many parts of the world.
Going through Heathrow, on a connecting British Airways flight, I was surprised to have to leave my extra bottle of airplane wine before going through security, just after getting off the plane. I hadn’t been to Heathrow in 20 years, because I’d avoided it’s complications. When we got off the plane, staff was there to tell us, if you’re going to Lisbon, run! 🤷🏽♀️ We did, and we weren’t allowed to go to our next flight because we were at the gate less than 30 minutes before boarding. The plane was still there, but we could get on. I had 90 mins to make the connection, but there was a 1.5 delay, and weather that slowed us down. Coming back home, I had a 3 hour layover in Heathrow, which was good because the 1 security guy went through EVERYONE’s carryons. They even open and scanned my sealed duty free bottle of wine. That took 40 mins.
Seoul's Incheon International Airport has a program similar to the one in Istanbul that you described in the video. Various trips are available depending on the time you have available between flights.
I just did that short lay over , thinking ahh good home quicker. Yep soon realised my error while on holiday. Made my connecting flight with ten minutes to spare but stress levels were in turbo mode watching the time on my first flight. Never again !. Any layovers for me will be a minimum 3 hours. The peace of mind is priceless. I love flying and the whole airport experience but holy moly it is stressful.
Back in 2019, I had a fourteen hour layover in 'Shanghai, China'. I immediately got my visitors visa and it was on to the 'Maglev' which took me directly to the metro and then towards downtown, Shanghai. The charming nightlife was vibrant, albeit brief. With luggage in tow, I walked for five hours not knowing where the heck I was. I booked a hotel for the rest of the evening and was outta there by 06:00 and onwards to 'Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia' where my misadventures continued. Fun times. To everyone: Travelling solo is the ultimate remedy which will definitely cure, what ails, ya! Hang cool and be safe, y'all!
I like layovers, but I have found that my favorite airline doesn't have many flights to my destination with longer layovers. Many of them are less than an hour! I like to explore airports and stretch my legs, but I end up having to speedwalk to the next gate!
We changed flights because our original layover in newark was 1 hour and just the shuttle to the other terminal was 19 minutes. We also upgraded to united business class on a flight to Italy a few days prior for a much lower rate. Got beds on the plane and polaris lounge at Newark. Very worthwhile.🎉
This is one of the best travel videos I've ever watched. Thanks, Nora. As much as I travel,I have honestly been nervous to leave the airport between flights ✈️. I'm thinking what if I get lost and don't get back in time! Now I'm thinking of what I've missed. Next time I'm overseas, I think I'll give it a go!
A note about what to do in the airport - the Amsterdam (Shiphall airport) is pretty nice to have layover even without getting out to the city. They have a little exhibition of arts within airport, some special place to see the flying planes, even the grocery market there with great selection of cheeses. Of course, I could not recommend for sure about the current situation, as I discovered the opportunities in this airport few years ago.
Why is it so common in so many airports nowadays to put connecting passangers through security AGAIN even when such passengers have already gone through security check at the airport of origin and have never left the airside of the connecting airport?.
They don’t trust screening procedures from outside the US, if that is where you’ve seen this scenario occurring. Sometimes the airport is just set up that way, too, like in Mexico City.
@@AnnaBanana-rq9vh I have seen that in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo; El Dorado. Bogota; Hato, Curazao, and a few others. Funnily enough, not in Tocumen, Panamá, not Arturo Merino, Santiago de Chile.
I watched several of your videos yesterday and today. You posted them from a year ago to the present. I found them interesting and informative. I subscribed today.
Love your videos! I leave for the Philippines in less than a week and have been binge watching your content for this trip..Half of my packing was adjusted due to your advice, so thank you.
I travel internationally regularly and try to schedule LONG layovers after 14 to 16 hours flights. If one books a hotel at mid-point, one will arrive in better shape at the final destination. However, one caveat. Many YT "influencers" tend to book the "day-use" or "transient" airport hotels. In Singapore, for example, those places only APPEAR cheaper than the full-line Crowne in Terminal 3. What they don't seem to consider is they're renting that room for six hours. After six hours, the prices increase exponentially. In short, booking a "normal" hotel at a higher price is often a better choice.
I don't think that I've ever tried to take advantage of a longish layover to leave the airport and explore the area, but then I rarely have layovers longer than 2-3 hours and I'd probably be too tired to enjoy it and would be worried about missing my connecting flight if I did. I do though miss the days when airlines would allow you to turn a layover into a stopover of more than a day, but not many do that anymore. I have done that and thoroughly enjoyed it. And a few years back I had to connect flights in London but through different airports with nearly the whole day in-between so I did take advantage of it to see an old friend, take a nap at their place and walk around a bit. But with two redyes in a row I was totally beat when I arrived at my destination. Where I had to attend a wedding that night. I'm glad I did it but very tiring. Trains are a different matter, though, since stations are usually in city centers and with far less security and check-in to deal with you don't need that much time to do some exploring outside the train station. I've done that lots of times even with just an hour or two between trains. You just need a place to store your luggage if it's more than a backpack. My one regret is not taking advantage of an hour-long stop on a cross-country train I took years ago to go for a run, since I had a room with its own shower. But in my defense it was early January and we were going through the northern plains and I'm not a fan of running in 5 degree weather. 😆
Indeed, airlines make it a bit more difficult to schedule stopovers (more than a day) on one ticket. I believe British Airways and Copa still do. Otherwise you need to search using the "multi-city" option, so it's a bit more of a hassle. I love train travel for SO many reasons! I've done just about every inch of trains track in North America. (Just two 24-hour train routes left in Canada and one in the US, and I'll have done them all!)
@@NoraDunn Cool! I love trains, although like many I do wish that US passenger rail was brought more in line with the rest of the developed world, more routes, faster trains, more scheduled runs, etc. But it's still not that bad as it is. Just tried Eurostar recently, in both directions, nothing like that here, in the US or Canada, except perhaps the new Brightline service in Florida. But Europe's been doing this for well over 30 years and does it so well. I've taken trains all over it and loved every minute, especially those unbelievably scenic Swiss trains. But while not quite as well-traveled as you here, I've crossed the US several times on Amtrak and gone up nearly the entire west coast from LA to Vancouver, in segments, usually in rooms as I just can't imagine doing it in coach. The most scenic ones I've taken are the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Cardinal. I'd love to take the Canadian one day, though! I've been to both terminal cities and would love to visit them again, and of course see everything in-between.
@@kovie9162 I am 100% with you on booking a roomette for long-distance train rides on Amtrak (and also Via in Canada)! It costs more, but you get privacy, a lie-flat bed to sleep in, and 3 meals a day (made to order) in the dining car - wine included! It's actually good value when you consider it's not only your transportation but also your accommodation and meals. And for me, the California Zephyr was definitely the most scenic of the bunch. Although in Canada there is a little-known route from Jasper to Prince Rupert that is utterly EPIC. Perhaps the most scenic train ride in the world.
@@NoraDunn Hmm, I have to try that route someday, thanks! I've been fortunate enough to have always had a room or at least a lie-flat "bed" every time I've taken an overnight train (e.g. European-style couchettes or one of those old-style six passenger compartments where the seats fold down flat to make a makeshift bed, all to myself). But rooms win hands down, for all the reasons you gave, and although Amtrak gets a bad rap it's not so bad. But I haven't ridden it in years and have heard that it hasn't done a great job of keeping up. I was once lucky enough to take a 7 night round trip on Amtrak years ago, 3 nights from NYC to SF, a night up to Portland, then 3 more nights back to NYC, all in rooms, including their "Deluxe Bedroom" with en suite shower and bathroom. And because it was for a business trip, it only cost me just over $400, which was basically the difference over what it would have cost to fly business class (Amtrak rooms were much cheaper then and it was over the holidays when flights were expensive). Best train trip ever, and it included Amtrak's three most scenic routes, the Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Cardinal. And in winter, which I think is prettiest. Ah, the memories...
@@kovie9162 What a fantastic trip! I agree, winter is an epic time to travel this way. I think that's one of the reasons my California Zephyr trip stands out for me - it was in March, so, lots of snow and animal-spotting!
Last time I flew though South Korea the Sole airport also does city layover tours so we were able to do something fun on our 12 hour (yuck) layover. Also as an added note, Korean Air has THE BEST airline food I have ever had. Like the brand of kimchi I buy now I do because it tastes like the airline kimchi 😅
Yes, there’s another point here that was Reyes that reminded me of a nightmare I experienced in London. Sometimes you for flying the cheap Intercontinental airlines in Europe like EasyJet for example, they will not let you on the plane if you’re not there a certain amount of minutes before the flight takes off even if the flight hasn’t boarded completely, they will just refuse to put you on the plane. No arriving last minute for these flights. So be sure to take a look and see what the cut off time is for when you have to be in the boarding area. No joke. I had to spend the night at the airport, and I got there and checked in 40 minutes before the flight time but that wasn’t enough, I think it was 45 minutes that I had to be there. I know, how infuriating
Travelling with carry on only -and the lighter the better- assists greatly with successful short layovers. I also try to book a seat closer to the front, and ask the cabin crew if they can confirm the gate of the connecting flight if I think I’ll need to run for it. If you’ve downloaded the airline’s app, and have an eSIM for your layover region/ country, you can also check your next flight’s gate as you’re taxiing in - as well as an airport plan. Absolutely key to book both legs of the flight on one ticket, though! Thanks for your great tips!
Shopping during layover ... I am such a sucker for Duty Free Chocolate. Call me crazy but I want 2.5-3hrs minimum for a layover and 4 or 5hr is fine. I know it's not always possible but like most folks I think non-stop is best, even if I have to pay a bit more I'll take it.
I had a flight from Dallas (DFW) to Asheville, NC (AVL) via Atlanta (ATL) on Delta....this was back in 2003. My flight from Dallas was 10 min late. Flight crew said the plane would wait as there were 6 of us (really? 6 people from Dallas on the same flight going to Asheville?)...making that connection. We ALL made it to the gate, with 10 min to spare. Yeah, Delta ATL killed it on the ground transport! The pilot did NOT want to wait, he left 10 min early. Yeah. We watched the plane push back. Ok, here comes the point of my comment. Sometimes, the "next flight" isn't for 4-6 hours or more, BUT in this case, Asheville, NC is only a 3 hour drive from Atlanta. Why should I wait 6 hours when I can already be there in 3? Exactly, Delta paid for the 1 way rental and I was good. So check distances and possible other ways of travel, which may be faster?
@@monabiehl6213 Good point. So then it's time to check bus and/or train schedules, if there are any. After that, maybe phone/text a friend locally? Or wait the 6 hours.
We never fly direct anymore from Aussie to Europe, we always now fly into Asia hub then stay one night get a sleep and then fly next day into Europe from there. Yes two different tickets but sometimes works out cheaper for us and def better head space than going direct. If we do have to transit we always make sure we have long layover as well. Was def confirmed for us this year when travelling the amt of planes still being delayed or arriving late so extra careful now with our bookings.
Such brilliant work Nora, especially the time zones at your destination versus where you embarked. No fun exploring when you’re exhausted because it’s 5 am in your personal time. Also the liquids being confiscated due to extra security screening. So much screening in Egyptian airports even domestic flights.
HIghly recommend the Turkish Airlines layover advise. Not only is Turkish Airlines a wonderful airline with the best food I've had on any airline, but the free tours are excellent.
Excellent travel tips! I’ve done a great deal of international travel in recent years and have encountered some of these issues. Definitely no fun finding out you actually have to change “airports” to make a flight connection in a foreign country … where you don’t speak the language. Yikes!! Thanks for such a comprehensive list. 👍👏👏
Was recently searching for a flight to Bangkok and saw that there was a layover in Narita..thought, hey, it would be cool to see a bit of Tokyo, so I revised my search to a multi city search, building in a 5 day layover in Tokyo. Same price. If you have time, consider actually extending your layover. Afterwards, out of curiosity, I searched for just a straight return flight to Narita. The exact same flights were *more expensive* than the multi city flight including Bangkok. Now I’m trying to figure out how to search for flights based, not on the final destination, but on the layover city…
Great video, thank you. Regarding short layovers, I also avoid them as your checked-in luggage may not make it to be loaded onto the second flight aircraft.
Happened to me 3 weeks ago, I made my connection no problem, my checked suitcase on the other hand…. 😖🤣 Fortunately it was on the next flight, a couple hours later, and delivered to my hotel that same evening. I rarely check a bag but had paid extra for this ticket so it could be changed/cancelled and that included a “free” checked bag so why not?! Oh yeah, that’s why not…😆
Have a trip planned this fall, have booked our flights, having a long layover between flights of 14 hours for the outbound flights, the problem is we arrive at 4 pm and leave at 8:38 am so not much of a chance to sightsee, planned on booking into a hotel. Had the return flights booked so that we leave on two flights (no nonstops available) with little layover in between. Now the last leg has been cancelled and airlines re-booked to having three flights, still having a long layover between flights 2 and 3 (7 hours) of course overnight so no going out exploring. Now going to have to connect with airlines to see if I can change flight plans as my choices still will involved an overnight stay but there other 2 flight option with less travel time involved.
Good call on asking the airline if they can change your flights. Given that they cancelled and rebooked you, they should be amenable to giving you a different route/flight selection with more amenable layovers. Fingers crossed!
I learned about airport transfers and tight connections the hard way when connecting through London on BA. Fortunately a lovely employee took pity on us and rebooked us on a later flight for no charge. Now I avoid changing airports if at all possible!
Hey Nora. Another great video. You have a talent for organizing big topics so they are easy to understand. You'd be a good teacher. Did you ever do that for a living? Anyway, a question: If I am on a single reservation involving flights on more than one airline, and the first flight is delayed, causing me to miss the second flight, am I guaranteed free rebooking by the second airline? On a recent trip, for example, I booked on Air Canada but flew two segments on Copa and the third on Avianca. I didn't miss any flights on that trip. But would each airline have taken care of me if I had missed an earlier flight?
Great question, Bruce! My understand is, because it was booked on the same ticket, the airline will help you to rebook if you miss a connecting flight due to the prior flight delay.
Hi Nora, when you mentioned about possibilities in the airports during layovers, I wanted to make a comment about Turkish Airlines (in Istanbul) - I heard about it few years ago from my friend. But thank you - you already mentioned it. Another easy exploring a city (not free, but the price is low) - it is Frankfurt. This airport has a not expensive wonderful train to the centre of the city, and it brings from the airport to the city in around just 15 min. I would recommend this to the passengers if they feel discovering city of Frankfurt.
@@NoraDunn Dear Nora, I have a question. I remember you mentioned some medicine for nose (for clearing) - so it would help with ear pain when being on plane. Do you remember the name of that medicine? I understand all is individual - but just in case I am asking. It is a good advice. My last flight to Cuba (from Canada) was unusual for my ears, I do not know what happened. Thank you
@@An_Gold So in an earlier video I mentioned using nasal decongestant spray to reduce ear pain when flying. However since then I have found Earplanes - they are special earplugs that you wear while the plane is ascending and then again when it is descending - they work AMAZINGLY well! No ear pain at all, and normally I have a lot of trouble. You can find them in my Amazon shop; click on Idea Lists, then Miscellaneous Musts for Travel: www.amazon.com/shop/theprofessionalhobo
Speaking of layovers and charging stuff, I just came back from Romania with a layover in Heathrow. I had my Type C adapter, but that didn't help me in Heathrow - where all the outlets were Type F. Lesson learned - I used the airport USB connectors to charge my battery backup - and then used that to charge my phone. I do wonder how much of a security issue using airport USBs is - better safe than sorry - I guess.
Some trips you may have to go through document/passport control at your connecting airport, even if you don't have to go through security again. I was flying from a small airport in Nova Scotia to Newark airport and I had a connection in Toronto. In Toronto, I went through US customs and immigration (so I didn't have to do it in Newark). Another trip I was flying from Newark to Bordeaux with a connection in Brussels. In Brussels there was a 30+ minute line for document control, they just checked and stamped my passport, no security screening. My question is, how can I find out in advance when this is the case? I'd want an even longer layover when this happens.
That's a great question! I'm not totally sure. In your shoes I would do a search with terms like "if I'm flying through X to get to Y, do I need to clear immigration in X"? Something like that.
Quick question: how to know if I have to claim baggage after first flight and recheck it again on second flight?! Do I get some notification when checking in for the first time, or what?!
If you flight to Florence italy from the US you don't have the choice of a direct flight. You definitely have to layover at least from 7 to 8 hours within or paris, Germany Stuttgart, Berlin Frankfurt or any port of Europe countries. I was once had to wait 10 hours for connection to Florence, sitting alone myself in Stuttgart airport, ni one besides me and one security guy. No restaurant open for food or drinks. Of course i enjoyed a good calm quiet sleep in a empty airport (but should say it's extremely CLEAN). Too much drama to go exploring around. I don't deal with it, too risky and tiring
We got stuck in the Paris airport for hours going home to the States from Italy--during World Cup. Ended up there weren't enough pilots so we had an overnight layover. British Airways was great compensating us for our hotel and even a stipend to buy some supplies since they couldn't access our checked luggage. There was a mall outside of Paris near the airport which they shuttled us to. When we got settled into our hotel, we ended up hanging out with some pilots watching the World Cup. Hmm...probably the same ones who called in. :)
My best trips were layovers, one in London, two in Amsterdam. Did so much in a few hours in those cities. Unfortunately, i couldn't repeat the experience last September, as i landed around midnight. Had to spend 7 hours on a bench.
The worst of the lot.. Heathrow London. Thr security line is always backed up, and if your bag gets pulled aside, expect a 30 min delay before someone manually inspects your bag. So be extra careful with electronics and liquids
I stopped in Reykjavik once years ago. Because it was a "transit" layover and I didn't leave the airport, there was no re-check nor customs process to go through.
🇬🇾 👋Nora, new subscriber here, I just noticed that your earrings mirrors the colors of the Guyanese flag, and wondered if it was just coincidence. Also thanks for all the great info. Sorry if this question was asked and answered before.
The Istanbul city tour is excellent. The hotel they provide if you don’t take the tour: not so much. Indeed the rule in many airports makes it compulsory to go out of the airport if there’s more than a 12 hour layover. Which means going through immigration. For time zone issues I always reset my watch and phone to the arrival time zone as soon as I board the plane. The duty free at Frankfurt used to sell Swiss Army Knives which were then confiscated on the way to your next flight!
Hi Nora, I have a question. Is it better to book directly with the airline providing your flight or is a third party booking agent better? I tend to think going with the airline so all the profits go to that airline, but I don't know much about booking flights. Steve
There is a difference if you miss your flight. If you booked through a travel agent or third party you have to contact them (not the airline) to sort out your problem, which can be difficult if you are outside their timezone. If you book with the airline you deal with them direct if you have a problem with your booking.
I agree with 99% of this video. The other 1% is your advice not to buy any liquor, perfume, etc. above TSA's 3-1-1 rule for carry on at duty free for any international flights with a domestic connecting flight. Rather, I would say, *do* ask the salesman at duty free to wrap such products in a clear, sealed, TSA approved bag. Then, even if you forget to transfer the item to your checked baggage at the destination, TSA will not confiscate it unless the seal has been broken. Even having done so, I prefer to transfer the item to my checked baggage if I remember to.
@@NoraDunn thanks but I actually I did get my purchase confiscated once. First time I came back from Rio via Houston, I learned the hard way that there was such a thing as a TSA bag, getting lectured by the same TSA agent who confiscated my cachaça for not being sealed in one. A year or so later, I traveled the same route, bought the same booze at the same (literally unavoidable) duty free store, but this time knew to ask for a TSA bag and had no problems.
I have a six hour layover in Singapore airport….Flying out of Oz and to Sri Lanka…should this involve going through security again, and do you need a transit visa for Singapore ? I am having trouble finding out this information…Thank you…also, is there one off lounge access here ?
First of all, with a 6-hour layover, I wouldn't leave the airport so you shouldn't require a visa. Also, the Singapore airport is amazing - you can easily pass the time inside the airport! As for whether you will clear security again, I'm not sure. And there are lots of lounges in Changi airport. You can use websites like SleepingInAirports or apps like LoungeBuddy to see what's available. That said, there are so many restaurants and rainforests and public lounge areas that you probably don't need a specific lounge-pass.
To avoid "juice jacking" one just needs the special adapters which physically separate the data wires from the power ones in the USB connector... some also somewhat optimize a bit the charger (even if with no data wires the faster PD and QC protocols are not supported)
@@Toni_Snark Yes, but it is not just a matter of "special cables", but just a small adaptor, cheap, lightweight and easy to carry and to use: there are no problems at all: one does not need an extra cable or something too complex and expensive.
Most airports/countries allow you to carry your duty-free alcohol through security, as long as you have not opened the bottle and they are in the non-tampered packaging. But not Dubai. When flying Emirates and Dubai is your layover hub, buy your duty-free alcohol only at Dubai after clearing security for your connecting flight. Dubai does not allow you to carry alcohol into the country, even when transiting where you still have to pass through security. They will sell alcohol but not allow you to bring into Dubai. Strange but true.
They have changed their system in Dubai. Last night we transited through Dubai, from Bologna on our way to Australia and they allowed the sealed duty free we bought in Bologna through. However, they repackaged it, labelled it and then we had to leave it at the gate. We were able to pick up again at the baggage claim in Brisbane. It went through all of the incoming security screens no problem. :)
@@paraagshah4153 yes I recall the same! It definitely was not like that a few years ago - I wasn’t even allowed to keep a bottle of water I had bought airside.
You're not the first person I've known who does this. As long as you're not on a tight deadline, and as long as you're up for the fight for compensation, it's a valid strategy!
What she said is all valid but forgot one of the most important things and that is if you miss a connecting flight because of your first flights late they owe you money, especially if you have a very long layover, check it out.
True, but ONLY if both flights are booked on the same ticket. If you booked them on separate tickets, you are only entitled to money if the first flight is delayed a certain number of hours, and even then they'll only pay out weeks to months later.
Im sorry - but this does not work for me. I can tolerate a 2-4 hour layover (followed by a one hour flight to Madera - I just returned from Lisbon), but anything longer (especially following a lengthy flight - like into Lisbon from the US), its better to have a "stay over". I had a friend fly from LAX to Armenia. The trip was HORRIFIC to Europe, then a layover, followed by a flight to Moscow (seven hours), with another lengthy layover, followed by a six hour flight to Armenia. She arrived sick and required a week for detoxing from the jet lag. Complete insanity. Clearly not a true jet-setter. Book yourself a room at a local airport hotel, grab your bag, and get some sleep. Then fly out the next day. Sleeping in airports, showering with strange people, etc., is too stressful, and will eventually end up with your suffering severe jet lag. You need to get some sleep. If you cant afford the cost of a stay-over hotel, then be prepared to PAY THE COST of several days in your destination hotel dealing with GI problems, or hospitalization. Still, keep up the good work. J.
@jimfromburbankca5253 Good advice, especially for senior citizens, like my husband and me. The last time we traveled we both became very ill due to the stress and lack of rest. There was a man on one of our connecting flights who passed out on the plane, which created more stress, and now in hindsight, perhaps he had a severe case of COVID, and passed it on to us. Things have really changed, and not for the better. The airlines no longer keep passengers informed of delays and it seems airlines no longer communicate with each other to help passengers navigate gate changes or delays. We like to travel, but the stress from gate changes, cancelled flights, and delays make it very stressful for us, in spite of careful planning.
@@byronkerby6897 layovers are for poor people and kids (who dont feel the pain). Sorry, but that's just the way I feel. If you dont have the time and money to mitigate the jet lag with a few extra days at your hub cities, then maybe you should not be traveling
@@jimfromburbankca5253 You sound very arrogant and condescending. Even if you fly first-class, you are susceptible to layovers, delays, and gate changes. Our travels will continue, although mostly by train in Europe.
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I hit two of the connecting flight issues on a trip to Cambodia. I booked one flight on United to LA using points and purchased my overseas flight on Eva Air. The LA flight got in late so I was rushed when I landed. I booked two flights on two different tickets. Because I hadn't checked my bags through to my final destination I had to claim my luggage in LA. That was mistake number 1. Mistake number 2 was not realizing that the International terminal in LA was completely separate from the domestic terminal so I had to catch a bus to catch the second flight. Thankfully I just made the second flight. The bonus though was that due to my late check-in, they had given away my seat and ended up bumping me to first class. When I was returning home the check-in person in Cambodia asked if I would like to check my bags to DC. I had no idea they could/would do that. Lessons learned, always check your bags through to your final destination unless you have an extended layover AND always check the airport maps to see if you will need to change terminals or buildings.
Yay for getting bumped to first class!
Ll
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If you fly to the USA and have a connecting flight, you can not check in your suitcases to the final destination. The first US airport you land, you will have to do the customs/border control, get your checked in suitcases go through border control and check them back in for your connection flight.
@@SN-bl6xm Thanks for the intel!
I have a lounge membership and it really helps. Many layovers are way too short. You will miss flights taking short layovers. Take advantage of a lounge and take your time
I agree wholeheartedly! I have a credit card that gives me lounge access, and it comes in super handy. Even if you have to pay to get into lounges, it's often a cost-saver when you think of the free meals/beverages/WiFi and less shopping temptations (ha)
If I buy some liquidy stuff before my connecting flight, I am normally asked if I have a connecting flight when I pay. And if so - they put my items and the receipt in a sealed see through plastic bag, which is meant for this purpose. I thought this was a general rule.
And you can safely use the USB charging outlets for charging your power banks. But as you say, it is not necessarily safe to charge the phone there. Thank you for a lot of really great tips 🎉😊
This is great to know! Thanks!
@@NoraDunn I have used the sealed see through plastic bag option only in Europe from several countries to Noway where I live 🙂 I don't know if it is an option in other continents.
Flying from Uk to Australia via Singapore we had a 30 min layover 😅. We made it thankfully but that is not enough time to recover from a 14 hour flight straight onto another long haul ( apart from the 20 min sprint through Changi terminals 😂). By the time we were on the second flight my son had full blown air sickness that had started at the end of the first leg.
Next time we have a 24 hour layover on the same route. We shall recover and explore and shower and hopefully sleep 😊.
A 30-minute layover??? OMG that must have been an adventure, ha ha!
One time the airline reduced my scheduled 2 hour layover in ATL to 45 min. when they canceled my original planned connecting flight. ATL is huge often with a great distance between the gates for connecting flights. It was very stressful trying to make the connection although we did get to the gate as they were preparing to close the door. I had a severe case of arthritis in my knee (bone on bone) so i did request assistance which did help. 😮
Good thing you had assistance! In my experience the wheelchair aides know the fastest routes, which in some cases include passages not open to the public!
Going from Salt Lake City to Copenhagen, Denmark. First flight to Chicago arrival at 8:36 p.m. and departure to Copenhagen 10:05 p.m. gate closing at 9:35 p.m. on the other side of the airport. This involved going through TSA security where it is never easy for me. Flight was booked by the tour company. There was another flight arriving Chicago about 4 p.m. I asked for that flight. Nope, they wouldn't hear of it. I made the connection but it was stressful. I got wheelchair service because the pusher would know the way through O'Hare where I had to go from one end of the airport to the other in 59 minutes. Got to gate at 9:15 p.m. I hopped into the restroom, filled up my water bottle and boarded the plane at 9:20 p.m.
Whew! Glad you made it. I once had a tight connection through Miami and it was shortly after I had been in a near-fatal accident so I couldn't walk properly. The check-in agent knew the Miami connection was tight and suggested I get wheelchair assistance - and it was a great call! They took me through all kinds of back passages and cut down the time significantly.
Once on a trip to Italy, I made sure I booked a reasonable time between layovers as I didn’t want to be stressed out about transfer flights in a foreign country. On the way back, the flight was delayed in Florence then again in Milan and because of those two delays I missed my connection in Toronto (by 10 min). Fortunately I was able to get on the next connecting flight but it stresses the importance of making sure you have ample time between connections.
Glad you made your connection!
I completely agree with the ‘not too short’ layover tip. I’d rather be bored than stressed. Some airports are notorious for connecting flights - Bangkok, Istanbul and Dubai have been problematic for me in the past.
The terminal issue is critical too!
On a related note check that the airlines will check your luggage all the way through.
Glad we see eye to eye, Bob!
@@NoraDunn always :)
Houston is difficult if you have to hit customs before catching your next flight
@@AnnaBanana-rq9vh Good - good intel!
I am loving your channel. We have an 8 hour layover coming up in Oslo, and plan to go into the city for a few hours. But the long layover in Newark? We’re planning to hit the SAS lounge! My tip is watch out for the tastings at duty free shops - after a few early morning tastes at the Shannon airport, we bought waaaay more top shelf Irish whiskey than we’d planned!
Interesting strategy to go for the tastings at duty free shops! Can't say I've used that "hack" before :-)
In my calendar entries for flights I always put the local time and timezone for both departure and arrival along with the flight number in the subject of the event as well as in the time fields, like "United 8844 dep LAX 15:05 PST arr FRA 10:55 CET". That way I have only one place to look and no conversions to remember. Using 24-hour time ensures I don't overlook AM or PM and lines up with the way times are shown in many parts of the world.
Very clever!
Going through Heathrow, on a connecting British Airways flight, I was surprised to have to leave my extra bottle of airplane wine before going through security, just after getting off the plane. I hadn’t been to Heathrow in 20 years, because I’d avoided it’s complications. When we got off the plane, staff was there to tell us, if you’re going to Lisbon, run! 🤷🏽♀️ We did, and we weren’t allowed to go to our next flight because we were at the gate less than 30 minutes before boarding. The plane was still there, but we could get on. I had 90 mins to make the connection, but there was a 1.5 delay, and weather that slowed us down. Coming back home, I had a 3 hour layover in Heathrow, which was good because the 1 security guy went through EVERYONE’s carryons. They even open and scanned my sealed duty free bottle of wine. That took 40 mins.
Yikes! Good to know about the extra security when going through Heathrow. Thanks!
Seoul's Incheon International Airport has a program similar to the one in Istanbul that you described in the video. Various trips are available depending on the time you have available between flights.
Ooh - great intel, Paul! Thanks!
These tips really resonate when you’ve actually missed a connection and your bags got lost. Thanks British Airways!!
Eek!
I just did that short lay over , thinking ahh good home quicker. Yep soon realised my error while on holiday. Made my connecting flight with ten minutes to spare but stress levels were in turbo mode watching the time on my first flight. Never again !. Any layovers for me will be a minimum 3 hours. The peace of mind is priceless. I love flying and the whole airport experience but holy moly it is stressful.
Peace of mind is priceless - exactly!
Suppose travel firm refuses to book a flight with a reasonable layover.
@@monabiehl6213 This is why I book directly with the airline. Either way, you get the final say, not the "travel firm".
Back in 2019, I had a fourteen hour layover in 'Shanghai, China'. I immediately got my visitors visa and it was on to the 'Maglev' which took me directly to the metro and then towards downtown, Shanghai. The charming nightlife was vibrant, albeit brief. With luggage in tow, I walked for five hours not knowing where the heck I was. I booked a hotel for the rest of the evening and was outta there by 06:00 and onwards to 'Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia' where my misadventures continued. Fun times.
To everyone: Travelling solo is the ultimate remedy which will definitely cure, what ails, ya! Hang cool and be safe, y'all!
Yeah! Thanks for sharing!
I try to have all Visas in place before I leave. Easy enough to accomplish online and saves time at the destination.
@@mrc6182 Great call!
I like layovers, but I have found that my favorite airline doesn't have many flights to my destination with longer layovers. Many of them are less than an hour! I like to explore airports and stretch my legs, but I end up having to speedwalk to the next gate!
Ooh less than an hour stresses me out!
We changed flights because our original layover in newark was 1 hour and just the shuttle to the other terminal was 19 minutes. We also upgraded to united business class on a flight to Italy a few days prior for a much lower rate. Got beds on the plane and polaris lounge at Newark. Very worthwhile.🎉
I hear United Polaris lounges are great! And a reasonably priced upgrade to a lie-flat bed on an overnight flight is a great investment in my opinion.
This is one of the best travel videos I've ever watched. Thanks, Nora. As much as I travel,I have honestly been nervous to leave the airport between flights ✈️. I'm thinking what if I get lost and don't get back in time! Now I'm thinking of what I've missed. Next time I'm overseas, I think I'll give it a go!
Woohoo! Thanks Diana :-)
A note about what to do in the airport - the Amsterdam (Shiphall airport) is pretty nice to have layover even without getting out to the city. They have a little exhibition of arts within airport, some special place to see the flying planes, even the grocery market there with great selection of cheeses. Of course, I could not recommend for sure about the current situation, as I discovered the opportunities in this airport few years ago.
Fantastic - thanks for sharing this intel!
Why is it so common in so many airports nowadays to put connecting passangers through security AGAIN even when such passengers have already gone through security check at the airport of origin and have never left the airside of the connecting airport?.
They don’t trust screening procedures from outside the US, if that is where you’ve seen this scenario occurring. Sometimes the airport is just set up that way, too, like in Mexico City.
@@AnnaBanana-rq9vh I have seen that in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo; El Dorado. Bogota; Hato, Curazao, and a few others. Funnily enough, not in Tocumen, Panamá, not Arturo Merino, Santiago de Chile.
I’ll do anything I can to avoid layovers, but these tips will come in handy if and when I actually have to. Thanks 😊
You're welcome Pete!
Probably the best presented travel video I've seen! Thanks for this. Gonna love my next trip!
Glad you enjoyed it! Happy travels!
I watched several of your videos yesterday and today. You posted them from a year ago to the present. I found them interesting and informative. I subscribed today.
Thank you so much Jacquelyn!
Love your videos! I leave for the Philippines in less than a week and have been binge watching your content for this trip..Half of my packing was adjusted due to your advice, so thank you.
Woohoo!!! Thanks Mike! And, happy travels :-)
I travel internationally regularly and try to schedule LONG layovers after 14 to 16 hours flights. If one books a hotel at mid-point, one will arrive in better shape at the final destination. However, one caveat. Many YT "influencers" tend to book the "day-use" or "transient" airport hotels. In Singapore, for example, those places only APPEAR cheaper than the full-line Crowne in Terminal 3. What they don't seem to consider is they're renting that room for six hours. After six hours, the prices increase exponentially. In short, booking a "normal" hotel at a higher price is often a better choice.
I tend to book hotels for overnight layovers, and like you say, it helps to arrive more refreshed if you separate out long flight legs this way.
I don't think that I've ever tried to take advantage of a longish layover to leave the airport and explore the area, but then I rarely have layovers longer than 2-3 hours and I'd probably be too tired to enjoy it and would be worried about missing my connecting flight if I did.
I do though miss the days when airlines would allow you to turn a layover into a stopover of more than a day, but not many do that anymore. I have done that and thoroughly enjoyed it.
And a few years back I had to connect flights in London but through different airports with nearly the whole day in-between so I did take advantage of it to see an old friend, take a nap at their place and walk around a bit. But with two redyes in a row I was totally beat when I arrived at my destination. Where I had to attend a wedding that night. I'm glad I did it but very tiring.
Trains are a different matter, though, since stations are usually in city centers and with far less security and check-in to deal with you don't need that much time to do some exploring outside the train station. I've done that lots of times even with just an hour or two between trains. You just need a place to store your luggage if it's more than a backpack.
My one regret is not taking advantage of an hour-long stop on a cross-country train I took years ago to go for a run, since I had a room with its own shower. But in my defense it was early January and we were going through the northern plains and I'm not a fan of running in 5 degree weather. 😆
Indeed, airlines make it a bit more difficult to schedule stopovers (more than a day) on one ticket. I believe British Airways and Copa still do.
Otherwise you need to search using the "multi-city" option, so it's a bit more of a hassle.
I love train travel for SO many reasons! I've done just about every inch of trains track in North America. (Just two 24-hour train routes left in Canada and one in the US, and I'll have done them all!)
@@NoraDunn Cool! I love trains, although like many I do wish that US passenger rail was brought more in line with the rest of the developed world, more routes, faster trains, more scheduled runs, etc. But it's still not that bad as it is.
Just tried Eurostar recently, in both directions, nothing like that here, in the US or Canada, except perhaps the new Brightline service in Florida. But Europe's been doing this for well over 30 years and does it so well. I've taken trains all over it and loved every minute, especially those unbelievably scenic Swiss trains.
But while not quite as well-traveled as you here, I've crossed the US several times on Amtrak and gone up nearly the entire west coast from LA to Vancouver, in segments, usually in rooms as I just can't imagine doing it in coach. The most scenic ones I've taken are the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Cardinal.
I'd love to take the Canadian one day, though! I've been to both terminal cities and would love to visit them again, and of course see everything in-between.
@@kovie9162 I am 100% with you on booking a roomette for long-distance train rides on Amtrak (and also Via in Canada)! It costs more, but you get privacy, a lie-flat bed to sleep in, and 3 meals a day (made to order) in the dining car - wine included! It's actually good value when you consider it's not only your transportation but also your accommodation and meals.
And for me, the California Zephyr was definitely the most scenic of the bunch.
Although in Canada there is a little-known route from Jasper to Prince Rupert that is utterly EPIC. Perhaps the most scenic train ride in the world.
@@NoraDunn Hmm, I have to try that route someday, thanks!
I've been fortunate enough to have always had a room or at least a lie-flat "bed" every time I've taken an overnight train (e.g. European-style couchettes or one of those old-style six passenger compartments where the seats fold down flat to make a makeshift bed, all to myself). But rooms win hands down, for all the reasons you gave, and although Amtrak gets a bad rap it's not so bad. But I haven't ridden it in years and have heard that it hasn't done a great job of keeping up.
I was once lucky enough to take a 7 night round trip on Amtrak years ago, 3 nights from NYC to SF, a night up to Portland, then 3 more nights back to NYC, all in rooms, including their "Deluxe Bedroom" with en suite shower and bathroom.
And because it was for a business trip, it only cost me just over $400, which was basically the difference over what it would have cost to fly business class (Amtrak rooms were much cheaper then and it was over the holidays when flights were expensive). Best train trip ever, and it included Amtrak's three most scenic routes, the Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Cardinal. And in winter, which I think is prettiest.
Ah, the memories...
@@kovie9162 What a fantastic trip! I agree, winter is an epic time to travel this way. I think that's one of the reasons my California Zephyr trip stands out for me - it was in March, so, lots of snow and animal-spotting!
Last time I flew though South Korea the Sole airport also does city layover tours so we were able to do something fun on our 12 hour (yuck) layover.
Also as an added note, Korean Air has THE BEST airline food I have ever had. Like the brand of kimchi I buy now I do because it tastes like the airline kimchi 😅
Great to know about Korean Air and the Seoul layovers!
Yes, there’s another point here that was Reyes that reminded me of a nightmare I experienced in London. Sometimes you for flying the cheap Intercontinental airlines in Europe like EasyJet for example, they will not let you on the plane if you’re not there a certain amount of minutes before the flight takes off even if the flight hasn’t boarded completely, they will just refuse to put you on the plane. No arriving last minute for these flights. So be sure to take a look and see what the cut off time is for when you have to be in the boarding area. No joke. I had to spend the night at the airport, and I got there and checked in 40 minutes before the flight time but that wasn’t enough, I think it was 45 minutes that I had to be there. I know, how infuriating
Ooh - good tip!
You had me at juice jacking! Thx for the tip!
Ha! You're welcome.
Travelling with carry on only -and the lighter the better- assists greatly with successful short layovers. I also try to book a seat closer to the front, and ask the cabin crew if they can confirm the gate of the connecting flight if I think I’ll need to run for it. If you’ve downloaded the airline’s app, and have an eSIM for your layover region/ country, you can also check your next flight’s gate as you’re taxiing in - as well as an airport plan. Absolutely key to book both legs of the flight on one ticket, though! Thanks for your great tips!
Great tips, Heather! I like your system. Great point about the airline's app + eSIM for getting your connecting gate while taxiing.
Shopping during layover ... I am such a sucker for Duty Free Chocolate. Call me crazy but I want 2.5-3hrs minimum for a layover and 4 or 5hr is fine. I know it's not always possible but like most folks I think non-stop is best, even if I have to pay a bit more I'll take it.
I'm with you! Though much past 4 hours is a bit of a drag.
I had a flight from Dallas (DFW) to Asheville, NC (AVL) via Atlanta (ATL) on Delta....this was back in 2003. My flight from Dallas was 10 min late. Flight crew said the plane would wait as there were 6 of us (really? 6 people from Dallas on the same flight going to Asheville?)...making that connection. We ALL made it to the gate, with 10 min to spare. Yeah, Delta ATL killed it on the ground transport! The pilot did NOT want to wait, he left 10 min early. Yeah. We watched the plane push back. Ok, here comes the point of my comment. Sometimes, the "next flight" isn't for 4-6 hours or more, BUT in this case, Asheville, NC is only a 3 hour drive from Atlanta. Why should I wait 6 hours when I can already be there in 3? Exactly, Delta paid for the 1 way rental and I was good. So check distances and possible other ways of travel, which may be faster?
Totally - for a short last leg like that, it makes way more sense to drive! Good call.
If you drive--which I don't.
@@monabiehl6213 Good point. So then it's time to check bus and/or train schedules, if there are any. After that, maybe phone/text a friend locally? Or wait the 6 hours.
We never fly direct anymore from Aussie to Europe, we always now fly into Asia hub then stay one night get a sleep and then fly next day into Europe from there. Yes two different tickets but sometimes works out cheaper for us and def better head space than going direct. If we do have to transit we always make sure we have long layover as well. Was def confirmed for us this year when travelling the amt of planes still being delayed or arriving late so extra careful now with our bookings.
The night of rest in between can really help with jet lag too!
Such brilliant work Nora, especially the time zones at your destination versus where you embarked. No fun exploring when you’re exhausted because it’s 5 am in your personal time. Also the liquids being confiscated due to extra security screening. So much screening in Egyptian airports even domestic flights.
I'm so glad you find my tips useful, Louise! Thank you :-)
Turkish Airlines is really kicking a** these days. Great aircraft
And oftentimes, good prices too! And a great lounge in Istanbul :-)
HIghly recommend the Turkish Airlines layover advise. Not only is Turkish Airlines a wonderful airline with the best food I've had on any airline, but the free tours are excellent.
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
Excellent travel tips! I’ve done a great deal of international travel in recent years and have encountered some of these issues. Definitely no fun finding out you actually have to change “airports” to make a flight connection in a foreign country … where you don’t speak the language. Yikes!! Thanks for such a comprehensive list. 👍👏👏
I'm so glad you found this helpful! Here's to easy layovers :-)
Was recently searching for a flight to Bangkok and saw that there was a layover in Narita..thought, hey, it would be cool to see a bit of Tokyo, so I revised my search to a multi city search, building in a 5 day layover in Tokyo. Same price. If you have time, consider actually extending your layover. Afterwards, out of curiosity, I searched for just a straight return flight to Narita. The exact same flights were *more expensive* than the multi city flight including Bangkok. Now I’m trying to figure out how to search for flights based, not on the final destination, but on the layover city…
OMG this is GOLD. So interesting how longer flights with stopovers can actually cost LESS....
excellent tips
Thanks!
Great video, thank you. Regarding short layovers, I also avoid them as your checked-in luggage may not make it to be loaded onto the second flight aircraft.
Exactly! I tend to stress out about checked luggage on short layovers and it ruins my trip.
Happened to me 3 weeks ago, I made my connection no problem, my checked suitcase on the other hand…. 😖🤣 Fortunately it was on the next flight, a couple hours later, and delivered to my hotel that same evening. I rarely check a bag but had paid extra for this ticket so it could be changed/cancelled and that included a “free” checked bag so why not?! Oh yeah, that’s why not…😆
@@jillcarr-hilton7308 Good thing there was a subsequent flight and the luggage delay was minimal! Whew.
Have a trip planned this fall, have booked our flights, having a long layover between flights of 14 hours for the outbound flights, the problem is we arrive at 4 pm and leave at 8:38 am so not much of a chance to sightsee, planned on booking into a hotel. Had the return flights booked so that we leave on two flights (no nonstops available) with little layover in between. Now the last leg has been cancelled and airlines re-booked to having three flights, still having a long layover between flights 2 and 3 (7 hours) of course overnight so no going out exploring. Now going to have to connect with airlines to see if I can change flight plans as my choices still will involved an overnight stay but there other 2 flight option with less travel time involved.
Good call on asking the airline if they can change your flights. Given that they cancelled and rebooked you, they should be amenable to giving you a different route/flight selection with more amenable layovers. Fingers crossed!
I learned about airport transfers and tight connections the hard way when connecting through London on BA. Fortunately a lovely employee took pity on us and rebooked us on a later flight for no charge. Now I avoid changing airports if at all possible!
Sorry you learned that the hard way. Glad you had some assistance in the end!
Hey Nora. Another great video. You have a talent for organizing big topics so they are easy to understand. You'd be a good teacher. Did you ever do that for a living? Anyway, a question: If I am on a single reservation involving flights on more than one airline, and the first flight is delayed, causing me to miss the second flight, am I guaranteed free rebooking by the second airline? On a recent trip, for example, I booked on Air Canada but flew two segments on Copa and the third on Avianca. I didn't miss any flights on that trip. But would each airline have taken care of me if I had missed an earlier flight?
Great question, Bruce! My understand is, because it was booked on the same ticket, the airline will help you to rebook if you miss a connecting flight due to the prior flight delay.
Hi Nora, when you mentioned about possibilities in the airports during layovers, I wanted to make a comment about Turkish Airlines (in Istanbul) - I heard about it few years ago from my friend. But thank you - you already mentioned it.
Another easy exploring a city (not free, but the price is low) - it is Frankfurt. This airport has a not expensive wonderful train to the centre of the city, and it brings from the airport to the city in around just 15 min. I would recommend this to the passengers if they feel discovering city of Frankfurt.
Absolutely! I've done the Frankfurt layover thing, and that train is great. Same thing for Vienna.
@@NoraDunn Thanks for sharing experience about Vienna.
@@NoraDunn Dear Nora, I have a question. I remember you mentioned some medicine for nose (for clearing) - so it would help with ear pain when being on plane. Do you remember the name of that medicine? I understand all is individual - but just in case I am asking. It is a good advice. My last flight to Cuba (from Canada) was unusual for my ears, I do not know what happened. Thank you
@@An_Gold So in an earlier video I mentioned using nasal decongestant spray to reduce ear pain when flying.
However since then I have found Earplanes - they are special earplugs that you wear while the plane is ascending and then again when it is descending - they work AMAZINGLY well! No ear pain at all, and normally I have a lot of trouble.
You can find them in my Amazon shop; click on Idea Lists, then Miscellaneous Musts for Travel: www.amazon.com/shop/theprofessionalhobo
@@NoraDunn Thank you for reply and information, Nora
Speaking of layovers and charging stuff, I just came back from Romania with a layover in Heathrow. I had my Type C adapter, but that didn't help me in Heathrow - where all the outlets were Type F. Lesson learned - I used the airport USB connectors to charge my battery backup - and then used that to charge my phone. I do wonder how much of a security issue using airport USBs is - better safe than sorry - I guess.
I wouldn't risk it! But yeah, good point about most USB charge ports still being USB-A. That will change soon I suspect.
Actually, I was referring to the electric outlet types.
@@rickhubner Oh yes, right - of course! That's where universal travel adaptors come in handy.
Some trips you may have to go through document/passport control at your connecting airport, even if you don't have to go through security again. I was flying from a small airport in Nova Scotia to Newark airport and I had a connection in Toronto. In Toronto, I went through US customs and immigration (so I didn't have to do it in Newark). Another trip I was flying from Newark to Bordeaux with a connection in Brussels. In Brussels there was a 30+ minute line for document control, they just checked and stamped my passport, no security screening. My question is, how can I find out in advance when this is the case? I'd want an even longer layover when this happens.
That's a great question! I'm not totally sure. In your shoes I would do a search with terms like "if I'm flying through X to get to Y, do I need to clear immigration in X"? Something like that.
Fantastic video Nora! So much useful information 😊.. thank you.. thank you.. thank you!
You're so welcome!
Quick question: how to know if I have to claim baggage after first flight and recheck it again on second flight?! Do I get some notification when checking in for the first time, or what?!
You can likely find this out by searching online.
If you flight to Florence italy from the US you don't have the choice of a direct flight. You definitely have to layover at least from 7 to 8 hours within or paris, Germany Stuttgart, Berlin Frankfurt or any port of Europe countries. I was once had to wait 10 hours for connection to Florence, sitting alone myself in Stuttgart airport, ni one besides me and one security guy. No restaurant open for food or drinks. Of course i enjoyed a good calm quiet sleep in a empty airport (but should say it's extremely CLEAN). Too much drama to go exploring around. I don't deal with it, too risky and tiring
We got stuck in the Paris airport for hours going home to the States from Italy--during World Cup. Ended up there weren't enough pilots so we had an overnight layover. British Airways was great compensating us for our hotel and even a stipend to buy some supplies since they couldn't access our checked luggage. There was a mall outside of Paris near the airport which they shuttled us to. When we got settled into our hotel, we ended up hanging out with some pilots watching the World Cup. Hmm...probably the same ones who called in. :)
Good to know!
Fun!
My best trips were layovers, one in London, two in Amsterdam. Did so much in a few hours in those cities.
Unfortunately, i couldn't repeat the experience last September, as i landed around midnight. Had to spend 7 hours on a bench.
Yuck! Never fun.
Fabulous! thank you Nora…I love your videos
You are so welcome!
I really enjoy your channel, Nora! Thank you!!
Glad you enjoy it Mia!
I have a 7 hour layover in Vienna coming up and I’m hoping to get into town while I’m there.
Vienna has a great program to get you into town from the airport! There are special train passes and even tours you can do, I believe!
@@NoraDunn thank you!
Excellent tips. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Great content well done. TY!
You're Welcome!
Lots of airports (Reykjavik, Keflavik, Seoul, Taiwan, etc) make transit passengers go through security before boarding another flight.
Exactly. Thanks for sharing your intel on these airports!
The worst of the lot.. Heathrow London. Thr security line is always backed up, and if your bag gets pulled aside, expect a 30 min delay before someone manually inspects your bag. So be extra careful with electronics and liquids
@@qakbot100 Good to know!
Anyone know about the experience with stops in Reykjavík? Re-check? Customs?
I stopped in Reykjavik once years ago. Because it was a "transit" layover and I didn't leave the airport, there was no re-check nor customs process to go through.
🇬🇾 👋Nora, new subscriber here, I just noticed that your earrings mirrors the colors of the Guyanese flag, and wondered if it was just coincidence. Also thanks for all the great info. Sorry if this question was asked and answered before.
Just a coincidence, but great catch! :-)
The Istanbul city tour is excellent. The hotel they provide if you don’t take the tour: not so much.
Indeed the rule in many airports makes it compulsory to go out of the airport if there’s more than a 12 hour layover. Which means going through immigration.
For time zone issues I always reset my watch and phone to the arrival time zone as soon as I board the plane.
The duty free at Frankfurt used to sell Swiss Army Knives which were then confiscated on the way to your next flight!
Thanks for weighing in on the Istanbul tour and hotel situation!
I did not know about "juice jacking" thank you.
I think changing my portable charger would be okay??
Yes! A portable charger is an excellent choice.
Hi Nora, my connecting flight changed at LAX. Does anyone know if there is a VIP that opens near midnight??? Oh dear 14 hour layover now
Yikes! Check on the LoungeBuddy or FLIO apps. They have lounge info and hours.
I had no idea people can scan your cards..👍
Right? Surprise! Ha
Good job thanks
No problem
Hi Nora, I have a question. Is it better to book directly with the airline providing your flight or is a third party booking agent better? I tend to think going with the airline so all the profits go to that airline, but I don't know much about booking flights. Steve
There is a difference if you miss your flight. If you booked through a travel agent or third party you have to contact them (not the airline) to sort out your problem, which can be difficult if you are outside their timezone.
If you book with the airline you deal with them direct if you have a problem with your booking.
I'm with @User-mo - book directly with the airline!
@@NoraDunn Thank you both 😎
We’ve gone through Amsterdam multiple times and yet I’m still sweating a 2 hr 15 min layover midday on a Thur on our way to Prague. Yikes!!
Right?? Sometimes even layovers of a reasonable length can be stressful.
I agree with 99% of this video. The other 1% is your advice not to buy any liquor, perfume, etc. above TSA's 3-1-1 rule for carry on at duty free for any international flights with a domestic connecting flight. Rather, I would say, *do* ask the salesman at duty free to wrap such products in a clear, sealed, TSA approved bag. Then, even if you forget to transfer the item to your checked baggage at the destination, TSA will not confiscate it unless the seal has been broken. Even having done so, I prefer to transfer the item to my checked baggage if I remember to.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad you haven't had your purchases confiscated!
@@NoraDunn thanks but I actually I did get my purchase confiscated once. First time I came back from Rio via Houston, I learned the hard way that there was such a thing as a TSA bag, getting lectured by the same TSA agent who confiscated my cachaça for not being sealed in one. A year or so later, I traveled the same route, bought the same booze at the same (literally unavoidable) duty free store, but this time knew to ask for a TSA bag and had no problems.
@@chefebispo Clever! Thanks for the intel.
I have a six hour layover in Singapore airport….Flying out of Oz and to Sri Lanka…should this involve going through security again, and do you need a transit visa for Singapore ? I am having trouble finding out this information…Thank you…also, is there one off lounge access here ?
First of all, with a 6-hour layover, I wouldn't leave the airport so you shouldn't require a visa. Also, the Singapore airport is amazing - you can easily pass the time inside the airport!
As for whether you will clear security again, I'm not sure.
And there are lots of lounges in Changi airport. You can use websites like SleepingInAirports or apps like LoungeBuddy to see what's available. That said, there are so many restaurants and rainforests and public lounge areas that you probably don't need a specific lounge-pass.
Thank you Nora.. I am very grateful for your reply and expertise!
@@bronwynquinn4477 No problem - thank YOU!
Wow, juice theft! Didn't think public usb ports could be dangerous. Is it the same on the plane?
That's a great question. I'm not sure, but honestly I wouldn't want to risk it.
I had a layover of 4 hours once and still almost missed my flight cause sometimes customs takes so long
Yes, this can happen. Glad you didn't miss it!
I would love to get my wife the necklace you are wearing! Can you share where you got it?
I got the necklace at a conference, but I think this one is the same or similar: amzn.to/3ZWaMJJ
To avoid "juice jacking" one just needs the special adapters which physically separate the data wires from the power ones in the USB connector... some also somewhat optimize a bit the charger (even if with no data wires the faster PD and QC protocols are not supported)
She mentioned that.
@@Toni_Snark Yes, but it is not just a matter of "special cables", but just a small adaptor, cheap, lightweight and easy to carry and to use: there are no problems at all: one does not need an extra cable or something too complex and expensive.
Thanks for the tip!
Wonder why you call Turkish Airlines obscure? It's one of the absolute best airlines I have ever used (and I fly quite a lot)....
Only obscure as people don't necessarily consider Istanbul as a layover point. But I agree - Turkish airlines is great!
Most airports/countries allow you to carry your duty-free alcohol through security, as long as you have not opened the bottle and they are in the non-tampered packaging. But not Dubai. When flying Emirates and Dubai is your layover hub, buy your duty-free alcohol only at Dubai after clearing security for your connecting flight. Dubai does not allow you to carry alcohol into the country, even when transiting where you still have to pass through security. They will sell alcohol but not allow you to bring into Dubai. Strange but true.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing.
They have changed their system in Dubai. Last night we transited through Dubai, from Bologna on our way to Australia and they allowed the sealed duty free we bought in Bologna through. However, they repackaged it, labelled it and then we had to leave it at the gate. We were able to pick up again at the baggage claim in Brisbane.
It went through all of the incoming security screens no problem. :)
@@TheTopNote thank you for the update. That is a welcome change. My experience was from more than a few years ago.
@@paraagshah4153 yes I recall the same! It definitely was not like that a few years ago - I wasn’t even allowed to keep a bottle of water I had bought airside.
@@TheTopNote This is really good to know! Thanks for sharing.
I deliberately book layovers short enough that if the airline fucks up, I get compensation for delaying my flight.
You're not the first person I've known who does this. As long as you're not on a tight deadline, and as long as you're up for the fight for compensation, it's a valid strategy!
If you have access to your checked bags you will have to go through security before taking another flight.
Great point, Bruce!
Pray you never have a layover at the Manila airport (NAIA). The place is an uncomfortable horror show.
Ooh....good to know!
What she said is all valid but forgot one of the most important things and that is if you miss a connecting flight because of your first flights late they owe you money, especially if you have a very long layover, check it out.
True, but ONLY if both flights are booked on the same ticket. If you booked them on separate tickets, you are only entitled to money if the first flight is delayed a certain number of hours, and even then they'll only pay out weeks to months later.
Im sorry - but this does not work for me. I can tolerate a 2-4 hour layover (followed by a one hour flight to Madera - I just returned from Lisbon), but anything longer (especially following a lengthy flight - like into Lisbon from the US), its better to have a "stay over".
I had a friend fly from LAX to Armenia. The trip was HORRIFIC to Europe, then a layover, followed by a flight to Moscow (seven hours), with another lengthy layover, followed by a six hour flight to Armenia. She arrived sick and required a week for detoxing from the jet lag. Complete insanity. Clearly not a true jet-setter.
Book yourself a room at a local airport hotel, grab your bag, and get some sleep. Then fly out the next day. Sleeping in airports, showering with strange people, etc., is too stressful, and will eventually end up with your suffering severe jet lag.
You need to get some sleep. If you cant afford the cost of a stay-over hotel, then be prepared to PAY THE COST of several days in your destination hotel dealing with GI problems, or hospitalization.
Still, keep up the good work. J.
I'm ALL for a 2-4 hour layover! I don't believe I said anything to the contrary.
@jimfromburbankca5253 Good advice, especially for senior citizens, like my husband and me. The last time we traveled we both became very ill due to the stress and lack of rest. There was a man on one of our connecting flights who passed out on the plane, which created more stress, and now in hindsight, perhaps he had a severe case of COVID, and passed it on to us. Things have really changed, and not for the better. The airlines no longer keep passengers informed of delays and it seems airlines no longer communicate with each other to help passengers navigate gate changes or delays. We like to travel, but the stress from gate changes, cancelled flights, and delays make it very stressful for us, in spite of careful planning.
@@byronkerby6897 layovers are for poor people and kids (who dont feel the pain). Sorry, but that's just the way I feel. If you dont have the time and money to mitigate the jet lag with a few extra days at your hub cities, then maybe you should not be traveling
@@jimfromburbankca5253 You sound very arrogant and condescending. Even if you fly first-class, you are susceptible to layovers, delays, and gate changes. Our travels will continue, although mostly by train in Europe.
She covered this, didn't you listen to the whole thing?