Can You Leave The Airport On Your Layover?

What Is a Layover?

A layover is a scheduled stop between flights where you wait at an intermediate airport before continuing to your final destination. Unlike a stopover (which typically lasts 24 hours or more and may be an intentional part of your trip), a layover is usually a shorter connection time ranging from 30 minutes to several hours.

Layovers occur when there's no direct flight available between your origin and destination, or when connecting flights offer better pricing or timing than non-stop options. During a layover, you'll deplane at the connecting airport, wait for your next flight, and then board again to continue your journey.

How Do Layovers Work?

When you book a flight with a layover, your itinerary will show two or more flight segments. After landing at your connecting airport, you'll follow signs to your connecting gate. For domestic connections, this usually means staying in the secure area and walking to your next gate.

International layovers can be more complex. Depending on the country and your citizenship, you may need to go through customs and immigration, even if you're just passing through. Some airports have dedicated international transit areas where you can stay without clearing customs.

Your airline will provide you with boarding passes for all segments when you check in. If you have checked bags, they're typically transferred automatically to your final destination when your flights are booked on the same ticket.

Can You Leave the Airport During a Layover?

Yes, in most cases you can leave the airport during a layover, but several factors determine whether it's practical or even possible. The most important considerations are your layover duration, visa requirements, and how much time you'll need to get back through security.

For domestic layovers, leaving is straightforward — you can exit the secure area, explore the city, and return through TSA security before your next flight. For international layovers, you'll need to consider whether you need a visa to enter that country, even for a few hours.

As a general rule, you should have at least 5-6 hours for an international layover if you plan to leave the airport. This gives you roughly 2-3 hours to explore after accounting for customs, transportation, and returning through security.

Do You Have to Go Through Customs on a Layover?

Whether you go through customs depends on your layover country and whether you plan to leave the international transit zone. In the United States, you must clear customs and immigration at your first point of entry, even if you're just connecting to another international flight.

Many other countries, including most of Europe, allow you to stay "airside" in the international transit area without going through customs. This means you can connect between international flights without entering the country officially.

Do You Have to Go Through TSA on a Layover?

For domestic layovers within the United States, you typically remain in the secure area and don't need to go through TSA again. You simply walk from your arrival gate to your departure gate.

However, if you're arriving from an international destination into the US, you'll need to clear customs and immigration, collect your checked bags (if any), re-check them, and then go through TSA security before your connecting flight. This process can take 1-2 hours, which is why international connections in the US require more layover time.

Some airports have expedited security lanes for connecting passengers, and programs like Global Entry can significantly speed up the customs process.

Is a 40 Minute Layover Enough?

A 40-minute layover is risky and generally not recommended, even for domestic connections. While airlines do sell tickets with connections this short, any minor delay in your first flight could cause you to miss your connection.

At larger airports, simply walking from one gate to another can take 15-20 minutes, especially if you need to change terminals. Add any unexpected delay, and you're cutting it extremely close.

Is an Hour Layover Enough Time?

One hour can be sufficient for domestic layovers at smaller airports, particularly if your flights are operated by the same airline and gates tend to be close together. However, it's still on the tight side.

For large hub airports like Atlanta, Denver, or Chicago O'Hare, one hour leaves little room for error. If you need to change terminals or your first flight is even slightly delayed, you could miss your connection. For international layovers, one hour is almost never enough due to customs and immigration requirements.

How Long Should a Layover Be?

The ideal layover time depends on the type of connection:

• Domestic to domestic: 1.5-2 hours minimum
• International to domestic (arriving in the US): 2-3 hours minimum
• Domestic to international: 2-3 hours minimum
• International to international: 2-3 hours, depending on the airport
• If you want to leave the airport: 5-6 hours or more

These times account for potential delays, walking between gates, and any necessary security or customs procedures. When in doubt, opt for more time rather than less.

What Happens to Your Bags on a Layover?

If all your flights are booked on a single ticket (even with different airlines in an alliance), your checked bags are typically transferred automatically to your final destination. You won't need to collect them during your layover.

There are some important exceptions:

• US Customs: When arriving internationally to the US, you must collect your bags, clear customs, and re-check them — even if you're connecting to another flight
• Separate tickets: If you booked flights separately (not as a single itinerary), you'll need to collect your bags and re-check them yourself
• Some international connections: Certain countries or airlines may require you to collect and re-check bags

When checking in, always confirm with the agent where your bags will be checked through to, especially for complex itineraries.

What to Do During a Layover

A layover doesn't have to be wasted time. Here are some ways to make the most of your wait:

• Airport lounges: Many credit cards or day passes give you access to lounges with comfortable seating, food, drinks, and WiFi
• Duty-free shopping: Browse unique products and take advantage of tax-free prices on international flights
• Rest and recharge: Find a quiet gate area, use airport sleeping pods if available, or book a day room at an airport hotel
• Eat local: Many airports feature restaurants showcasing local cuisine
• Airport amenities: Some airports offer spas, showers, gyms, museums, and even movie theaters
• Explore the city: If you have enough time, take a quick trip into the city to see major attractions

Use our layover calculator above to determine exactly how much free time you'll have, factoring in security, customs, and transit times specific to your connecting airport.