Changeover Time Required at Airport?

jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 12:58
Last edited 20/09/2017 - 13:44 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I'm trying to fly from Australia into Country B, then switch onto another airline and fly to country C on the same day, without leaving the airport.

Anyone know how long I should allow for at the airport in B, for the change onto another flight? I can get a flight that leaves 3hrs (i think it was 2:45 to be precise) after the previous one arrives, but I'm just not sure if that is enough time. I don't think I've ever actually done this sort of thing before, usually its the same airline or different day…

For e.g, i'm not sure if i need to go through immigration in B, i'm not sure if I need to literally get my bags + leave the airport + reenter the airport to re-check in, and just how long I should allow for.

Thoughts? Am I cutting it too short? Cheers

Travel

Comments

  • inherentchoice on 20/09/2017 - 13:13
    +8

    If your first flight is late then you might miss the next. You're taking a risk that your travel insurance probably won't cover. Whereas if it's a connecting flight on the same booking then the airline is taking that risk and will have to rebook you on an alternative or even put you up in a hotel.

    Changeover time needed will also depend on the specific airport and country. In a large airport you might have a lot of metres to cover amid a labyrinth of gates and concourses. You may even have to get a bus or train to a separate terminal at the same airport.

  • boomramada on 20/09/2017 - 13:19

    I wouldn't do that, even with domestic.
    https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/2173/can-i-throug…

  • [Deactivated] on 20/09/2017 - 13:26
    +1

    3 hours is fine. Latest bag check-in is usually an hour before boarding.

    Which country?

    IE: If this were LAX etc I would say no.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/09/2017 - 14:00
      -4

      3 hours is plenty for LAX.

  • Ocker on 20/09/2017 - 13:37

    Play it safe and check with the airline

  • djones145 on 20/09/2017 - 13:46

    which country
    which airline
    is it the same airline, same ticket? cause if so they will transfer your luggage u are fine
    if its different, no

    also different countries do things differently
    i.e. America/Hawaii, they force you to get ur bags, go to customs etc, takes more time

    if its the same ticket/airline, the ticket will not allow if its too tight, 2.45 I usually ok

  • cameldownunder on 20/09/2017 - 14:17

    Singapore airline: 50 mins ! When with family, it's quite a ( adrenaline ) rush.

    • airzone on 20/09/2017 - 14:30

      I've done a 35 minute turnaround. Solo though, wouldn't have made it with the family. I also had a 90 minute turnaround one one sector, but the person who booked it didn't realise that it was an international to domestic transfer, and I missed it.. I had to sit around in Brisbane for 10 hours, so I went into the city and watched some movies.

    • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 16:17

      I'm actually planning to go with Singapore Airlines, and yes its a very very short turnaround for the 1st stop at Singapore! But obviously they think they can do it

      • inherentchoice on 20/09/2017 - 16:45
        +3

        they think they can do it

        Sounds like the same booking? If you're transferring from Singapore Airlines to Silk Air or another airline with a codeshare/interline agreement (e.g. Lufthansa) then if for some reason the flight to SIN is late and causes you to miss the onward flight, then like I said they will sort you out and re-book you. But if you were looking to book an onward flight with a completely separate airline (e.g. AirAsia) then you might wanna spend a night in the city.

  • SirFlibbled on 20/09/2017 - 14:51
    +1

    Depends on if you've got a single ticket or not. If you're checked through to your destination on a single ticket, then it should be fine. If you aren't and you need to get your luggage, go through customs etc, then you'll struggle to completely insane depending on the airport.

  • dollarmenu on 20/09/2017 - 15:53

    I was not able to check in from Brisbane INT to VN with a 1 hour layover in Thailand for Virgin airlines (booked through Wotif). Was told to contact Wotif at the check-in counter and they could not help me further. So to be on the safe side id go 2 hours minimum

  • thatonethere on 20/09/2017 - 15:58

    If you make the changeover too tight you might find that you rush and get on the plane - but your luggage does not.

  • Randxyz123 on 20/09/2017 - 16:06
    +4

    Why don't you tell us the actual countries?? It depends if you have to change terminals, how long the typical customs line is , if you need to collect your bags and recheck in or you can just use the "international connecting " area in the airport. if your flights are connected on one booking within the same alliance etc etc.

    I once took a good 20 minute bus ride between terminals in London Heathrow not including the 15 minutes waiting for the bus.

    I'm assuming your booking as 2 bookings in which case I'd say you need at least 4 hours and you'd want to be saving about $500 to book as 2 bookings rather than one. If your first flight is say 2 hours late or 3 hours late the other airline (or even if it's the same one ) WILL NOT care that you have another fight. As far as they're concerned you didn't turn up.

    • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 16:19

      I figured it wasn't really that relevant haha

      Australia > India > Oman

      It won't/can't be a single ticket - Singapore Airlines doesn't fly the full way through, so I have to change airlines completely

      • inherentchoice on 20/09/2017 - 16:50

        Try skyscanner or different flight search engines and see if you can do it cheaper on the one booking.

        Looks like Thai Airways will do it for about $1250 return in November, on the one booking… https://www.skyscanner.com.au/transport/flights/syda/om/chea…

        • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 20:04

          Needs to be fixed dates for a wedding unfortunately, or at least covering a certain period of dates that arent November

        • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 20:08

          Also skyscanner doesn't always actually mean the cheapest. For eg if you look at Air Asia its super cheap…until you want luggage and it bumps up to $1000+ return

        • inherentchoice on 21/09/2017 - 10:06

          @jellykingdom: Skyscanner indexes AirAsia. I don't know your dates so November was just an example.

      • Randxyz123 on 20/09/2017 - 19:57

        Why do you need to go on Singapore airlines?

        The biggest issue with changing airlines is that you'll have to clear customs, get your bags, go to departures, check in again, clear security again and get to the gate. That may involve changing terminals. Like I said in London it involved a bus ride.

        Alternatively

        I did a dummy flight in Expedia. MEL-Mumbai- Muscat return

        Emirates will do it on one booking. ~ $1900 You need to go via Dubai each time but that's no hardship.

        • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 20:06

          I know theres obviously a debate of Risk A Flight vs not but that Etihad flight is like $500pp more expensive

          But yez i will look into it

        • Randxyz123 on 20/09/2017 - 20:30
          +3

          @jellykingdom:

          Think of it this way if the first flight is late and you miss the second one it will cost a hell of a lot more than $500 for a new flight and maybe a hotel for the night.

      • zappy32 on 23/09/2017 - 05:12

        Are you Indian or have visa free entry to India? If you need to re-check bags you most likely will need to go through immigration which will mean paying for a visa. I honestly wouldn't take the chance of being able to do it in that time-frame in India but if you list the airport someone may have more of an idea.

        If you list your departure city and preferred dates you might find someone here who can find better flights.

  • Eeples on 21/09/2017 - 11:42

    I never risk it.

  • lainey13 on 21/09/2017 - 17:07

    I leave at least 24hrs between two different unrelated bookings. For the same booking there are legal limits for transfers depending on terminals/airports and you will be unable to book a flight combo that is below this limit. They expect you to make it and so will fly you on the next flight if you don't make it due to the first flight being late. Of course the next flight might be in 24 or 48 hours…

  • Peck on 21/09/2017 - 21:40

    If they are 2 individual bookings then you will need to do customs twice including collect and recheck in your baggage. 3 hours is not enough. 5 hours is enough (factoring in obvious risks)

  • jellykingdom on 23/09/2017 - 07:24

    Cool thanks everyone for the thoughts.I think I won't be taking the risk!

  • FatBoyNotSoSlim on 27/09/2017 - 15:33

    I'd have done it personally, given it's Changi airport. I've had no issues flying in on carrier A, going to airline information and checking in with carrier B, getting my bags redirected, and going to my gate to check in. This was on a 3hr stop over, so I was in no rush, but I don't know what the airlines had as hard limit, presumably 1hr for checkins for the bags and passenger manifests etc.

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