Every commercial airport in the world has what’s known as a minimum connection time (MCT), the amount of time the airport has determined is the absolute minimum an able bodied human being needs to make a connection to a continuing flight. The time period is chosen bearing in mind things like airport layout, security and whether the connection is between combinations of international or domestic flights.

Most online booking engines and airline websites will not offer flights with layovers that break the minimum connection time rule. But when booking flights on your own, it is possible to arrange two flights that do not meet this requirement. If you miss a flight on tickets booked this way, airlines will generally not offer a free seat on the next flight or give restitution, monetarily or otherwise. In other words, you’re on your own to get to your final destination.

AirTreks keeps minimum connection time in mind when assembling multi-stop tickets without exception. The only reason AirTreks would offer an itinerary with a connection that breaks the MCT is when there’s no other reasonable option (ie, no later flight that day or if it increases the total price dramatically). In this situation we will always advise the passenger, giving them the choice whether take the flight or not, also giving them their alternatives. If the passenger decides to have a connection that breaks the MCT in their itinerary they would assume all the risks involved, namely missing their flight.

Don’t unwittingly break the MCT and set yourself up for a missed flight. Your best defense? Book your trip with AirTreks and let us figure it out!