A flight with a change is often much cheaper than a direct one. Sometimes there is no other connection at all. For the change to work, you need enough time and the right kind of booking. A few simple steps at the airport do the rest.
How much time you need
Every airport sets a minimum connection time. Shorter connections are not even sold. That does not mean they are always relaxed. Allow this much time:
| Connection | Recommended time |
|---|---|
| Within the Schengen area, same terminal | 45 to 60 minutes |
| With passport control, for example arriving from outside Europe | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Change of terminal at large airports | 2 hours |
| Separate bookings, suitcase checked in again | 3 hours or more |
If you arrive from a country outside the Schengen area, you go through passport control at the first Schengen airport. Long queues form there at peak times. With a passport from outside the EU you often use a separate queue, which can be slower.
One booking or two?
This is the most important question when changing planes. If both flights are on a single booking, the airline is responsible for the whole journey. If you miss the connection because the first flight is late, it rebooks you free of charge. It also looks after meals and, if necessary, a hotel.
With separate bookings you carry the risk yourself. If the first flight is late, the second ticket is often simply lost. If you save money this way, allow plenty of time, or better still spend a night at the connecting airport.
What happens to your luggage?
On a single booking your suitcase is usually checked through to your destination. The bag tag then shows the code of your destination airport. Check this when you drop the case off. A quick look is enough.
There are exceptions. When entering the USA, you collect your suitcase at the first airport, go through customs and then check it in again. With separate bookings you almost always have to collect it yourself and check it in again. To do that you leave the secure area and have to go through security once more.
Changing planes at the airport
- Check the gate. Look at the departures board or the app as soon as you land. Connecting gates change quite often.
- Follow the signs. Look for “Transfer” or “Connecting flights”, not for the exit.
- Allow for security. Many airports screen transfer passengers again. Liquids bought duty-free stay in their sealed bag.
- Speak up. If time is getting tight, tell the crew while still on the first flight. Transfer passengers are sometimes let off the plane first.
Transit visas
If you are only changing planes, you usually do not need a visa. There are important exceptions, though. When changing planes in the USA you officially enter the country and need the electronic travel authorisation. Some other countries require a transit visa. What applies depends on your nationality, not on where you live. German citizens find the rules on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. With another passport, ask the embassy of the transit country before you book, especially for unusual connecting airports.
Tips for long waits
If you have several hours, look at what the airport offers. Many large hubs have quiet zones and showers, and some even run short city tours for transfer passengers. From about six hours, an airport hotel room may be the better choice. Pack charging cables, medicines and a toothbrush in your hand luggage in case it takes longer.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
