Stopovers instead of stress: How to make the most of connecting flights on international journeys
Travelling across several continents is easier today than ever before. At the same time, many international flight connections involve at least one stopover. Whether the transfer goes smoothly or causes unnecessary stress often depends on good preparation. Even the choice of airport or a realistically planned transfer time can be decisive in determining how relaxed the journey begins.
Choosing the right transfer airport
Anyone wishing to fly with Air France often uses Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as a transfer hub. The airline connects numerous destinations in the UK to its international route network. There are regular flights from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Glasgow, Bristol or Southampton to Paris, from where travellers can reach numerous long-haul destinations in North America, South America, Africa or Asia. This offers British travellers in particular a wide choice of connecting flights via one of Europe’s most important hubs.
Why allowing enough time for a connection is crucial
Many travellers automatically opt for the shortest possible connection time. Whilst this saves time on paper, it increases the risk of missing your connecting flight.
Departure delays, longer taxiing times or additional security checks can be enough to turn what seems like a comfortable connection into a race against the clock. It is therefore advisable, particularly on international journeys, to allow a little more time between two flights. For connections within Europe, an hour is often sufficient, whilst for intercontinental flights or when changing terminals, at least 90 to 120 minutes is usually advisable.
Airports differ significantly
Not every airport operates in the same way. Some transit hubs are straightforward to navigate, whilst others consist of several terminals, some of which are connected by shuttle trains or buses.
Paris Charles de Gaulle is one of Europe’s largest airports. Anyone transiting there should find out which terminal to use before setting off and download the airport map. Many airlines now offer their own apps for this purpose, which show the way to the nearest gate and provide information on last-minute changes.
In the UK, too, it’s worth being well prepared. London Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport and also one of Europe’s most important international hubs. In 2024, 83.9 million passengers used the airport – more than ever before. Anyone transferring between different airlines or alliances there should allow plenty of time for any terminal changes. Particularly during peak travel times, longer distances or busy security areas can cause further delays to your transfer.
Check-in your luggage through to your final destination where possible
A major advantage of booking a through flight is that checked-in luggage is often transported directly to your final destination. This means travellers do not have to collect or re-check their suitcases during a connecting flight.
The situation may be different if individual flights have been booked separately. In this case, it may be necessary to check in your luggage again and, if necessary, even go through security again. Anyone combining several tickets should check these procedures before travelling.
