Is 1 hour too short for a connecting flight?

Is a 1-Hour Layover Enough Time for a Connecting Flight?

A 1-hour layover for a connecting flight is generally considered insufficient and highly risky. Even minor delays from weather, staffing, or maintenance can easily cause a missed connection, despite airline confidence.

Honestly, even if the airline folks sound all confident, me, I’d never, ever book a flight with just a measly hour for a layover again. It’s just not worth that gut-wrenching feeling, the sheer panic of seeing your gate closing.

I still feel that knot in my stomach from November 2021, flying through Frankfurt. My first leg, an early morning flight from Manchester, was just 30 minutes late taking off. Small, right.

But Frankfurt, FRA, it’s a massive place. That small delay turned into a full-blown sprint through terminals, security lines that just felt too long, my heart just doing things. Like, what even is a "moderate delay" when you're watching the clock tick down, every second feeling like forever.

I missed it. Saw my connecting flight to Lisbon taxiing away, literally.

The airline did rebook me, eventually, but that was a six-hour wait at the airport. All for what felt like a tiny hiccup at the start. It ruined my whole day, cost me a prepaid dinner reservation.

So, yeah, my personal take: steer clear. Give yourself at least two hours, especially at big hubs. It’s a peace of mind thing, you know.