You can generally leave the airport during a layover, but I want to give you three reasons why sometimes you either cannot or should not leave the airport during a layover.
The first reason is an obvious one, and that is that your layover is too short. If your layover is less than five hours and you are boarding an international flight, I recommend that you just stay at the airport during your layover. The reason is that you will have to go through customs and immigration when leaving the airport, and you will have to go through security again once you return. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. Because the wait times are so unpredictable, it is best to stay at the airport to avoid the possibility of missing your flights or keep checking the flight map.
The second reason is that you do not have the correct paperwork. Depending on where your layover is happening, you may need a visa to exit the airport, even for a few hours. You will need to make sure you are eligible for a visa and get one in advance if you can or upon arrival.
The third reason is that some countries still have COVID restrictions for visitors. Even though the pandemic is under control in most countries, some countries will require you to either get vaccinated or take a COVID test if you choose to exit the airport. Because of that, you always want to check with the airport to see whether you can exit the airport during a layover a day before your flight and really before you start planning your trip. If you can clear these three reasons and they are not a factor for you, let’s talk about leaving the airport during a layover.
First, if you want to leave the airport during a domestic flight layover, then there is no restriction to do so since you are in the same country and no additional paperwork is needed.
If you check your luggage, the airline is automatically going to transfer your luggage to the flight for you. So you won’t have to worry about hauling your luggage around unless you booked your flights as two separate flights, in which case you are going to have to go and retrieve your luggage and recheck it with the new airline. Once you have done that, you are free to leave the airport. I would also make sure you carry everything you need in your carry-on, like your ID, passport, camera, wallet, and other things you are going to need with you while you are out exploring the city. If you want to leave the airport during a layover on an international flight, here are some tips to help you plan a successful trip during your layover.
First, as I mentioned earlier, we want to know what is required to be able to leave the airport. Is a visa required? Are there COVID restrictions that would prevent you from leaving the airport?
Some countries have specific visas for passengers with long layovers, which you can get at the airport. However, it’s not always a good idea to leave the airport just because you can.
You will need to do some research because you will be limited in time. If you don’t know how to get to the city, how long that takes, or what places to visit there, you will most likely end up wasting your time trying to find something fun to do. Another tip I have for you is to grab some snacks to go to save time. Instead of ordering at a restaurant, which can be time-consuming, grab some filling snacks like your granola bar, a waffle, or even a smoothie to help keep you full of energy during your trip outside the airport
Believe it or not, some airports even have guided tours of the city that are specially for layovers. To find out if the airport you are at provides these tours, be sure to stop at the airport’s information desk. I do know for sure that airports in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and Seoul provide city-guided tours. If you have decided that leaving the airport is not going to be a good option for you, then here are some options. That you can do inside the airport.
Tip Number 1:
You can book access to an airport lounge. Airport lounges can be awesome and help you pass the time. There is going to be more comfortable seating than what you can find elsewhere inside the airport, as well as better Wi-Fi. You may also be able to find beds and showers as well in some lounges. If you are flying internationally, sometimes access to the lounge is included in the price of the ticket; otherwise, you may be able to buy a day pass, or if you have enough frequent flyer points, you can use those to gain access as well.
Tip Number 2:
Go and look for value deals in duty-free shops. Duty-free shops are a great place to find quality chocolate, perfumes, and items you might not find in the city for a relatively lower price.
Tip Number 3:
Grab a coffee and some food, and find a place to read a book or watch something on Netflix. Time flies when you are comfortable, so find a spot where you can relax, read a book, or stream a movie until it’s time to get on your next flight.
Tip Number 4:
Go dining in airport restaurants. Airports have really improved the amount of food choices you can choose from, so if you have the time, why not treat yourself to a good meal while you wait?
Tip Number 5:
Some airports have interesting things that you can do that you wouldn’t think would be at an airport. For example, the San Francisco Airport offers yoga classes, and several airlines have movie theaters and spas inside the airports, which are great options to help you pass the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
So, I am now going to jump into answering some frequently asked questions that I get about leaving the airport during a layover.
Question number 1:
How long should my layover be if I want to leave the airport?
If it were me, I would like my layover to be at least six hours or longer if I’m considering leaving the airport during an international connecting flight. Just because you do have to go through customs and then go through security again, which can eat up a lot of your time. A domestic layover mostly depends on the city and how easy it is to get to and from the city from the airport.
For example, if I had a layover in Chicago, to get to downtown Chicago by train, it would take an hour each way from O’Hare airport, so considering that I’d want a five- or six-hour layover to make it worth my time.
Question number 2:
Can you get checked luggage during a layover?
Yes, you can claim your checked luggage from the airline. I would just make sure you arrive back at the airport to recheck your luggage at least 90 minutes before your flight.
Question number 3:
What happens if I miss the second leg of my flight?
If you were to miss your connecting flight either due to a flight delay, the security lines being too long, or really any other reason, the airline will rebook you on their next available flight. The good news is you won’t have to pay any additional fees when this happens.
Question number 4:
What countries are good for connecting flights?
I would say Germany, Turkey, and even the United Arab Emirates. These countries tend to have the highest number of tourists in the world, and spending a layover trip in any of these countries would be a memorable experience because these countries know how to host tourists and will have plenty of activities for you to do.
Question number 5:
Which cities are good for long layovers?
I would say the major cities of the countries I just mentioned. So Dubai, Istanbul, Copenhagen, and Frankfurt are all good choices, but I think generally any city is a good layover because it doesn’t require much or any paperwork to enter, and it has an easy way to get to and from the airport.
Question number 6:
What is the difference between a layover, a stopover, and a connecting flight?
A layover is any time you spend at the airport waiting for your connecting flight. A layover can last from 30 minutes up to 24 hours. A stopover is similar to a layover except for the gap between each flight. A stopover lasts more than 24 hours and can go up to a couple of days. A connecting flight is a term used to describe a flight that is split into two or more flights to reach your destination. So a connecting flight can include a layover or a stopover depending on how long your connection is.