Is 3 hours enough for a self transfer?

Is 4 hours enough time for self-transfer?

Four hours for a self-transfer? It depends. Critically. My experience tells me: no, not always.

Sydney, for example, is sprawling. Security lines in 2024 can be brutal. I once spent an hour just navigating the labyrinthine baggage claim alone. A short haul? Maybe. A long haul? Absolutely not.

Gatwick (LGW) is a different beast. More efficient. Four hours and ten minutes is probably sufficient, unless there are unforeseen issues; delays are a constant companion.

Taoyuan (TPE) is efficient, often better than anticipated. Still, four hours is a buffer, but a reasonably comfortable one. It allows for unexpected delays, which you will encounter in air travel.

• Consider the factors:
  • Time of day (peak hours are nightmares)
  • Airport size and layout (some are sprawling messes)
  • Your own walking speed (factor in that too)
  • Baggage claim time (it’s always longer than you think)
  • Security lines (the bane of every traveler’s existence)

The golden rule? Better to be early than late. Missing a connecting flight is immensely frustrating. A missed connection in 2023 cost me a whole day, including my favorite sushi place in Tokyo. A wasted day!

Overestimate, always. You’ll thank yourself later. Seriously. Even the extra hour feels worthwhile for peace of mind. This isn’t a race, but a journey. A journey potentially involving long lines and tired feet! I prefer relaxed travels.

Is 3 hours enough for a transfer?

Three hours for an international transfer? Cutting it close. Bare minimum. Domestic, 1.5 hours is doable, sometimes. Think about it. Retrieve luggage. Customs line snakes forever. Re-check bags. Security again. Two hours easily chewed up. My passport expires December 2024. Gotta renew soon. Never smooth sailing. One time in Charles de Gaulle, passport control took an hour. Just one agent. Crazy.

• International:3 hours minimum. More if it’s a busy airport. Heathrow is a nightmare.
• Domestic: 1.5 hours, maybe. If you’re lucky. No delays. Straightforward security.

Factor in unexpected hiccups. Delayed flights. Lost luggage. System glitches. Once spent 4 hours waiting for a connecting flight in Atlanta. Ugh. Travel is unpredictable. Pack snacks. Always. Good book. Charged phone. Essential travel trinity. My power bank holds three charges. Lifesaver. Especially on long hauls. Like that time I flew to Auckland. 13 hours. Never again. JFK. Terrible Wi-Fi. Bring your own entertainment. Always.

How much time should I give myself between connecting flights?

Two hours. A cushion of air. Breathe. Lost in the echoing marble. Terminal vastness. Two hours a lifetime. A small eternity between planes. Ghostly announcements. The murmur of the crowd, a tide. Ebbing, flowing. Dragging suitcases, rolling, rolling. Two hours. Time enough to watch the planes. Silver birds. Ascending. Vanishing. Two hours. Time enough to lose yourself. Then find yourself again. At the gate. Ready to fly. Onward.

• Two hours minimum. Safety net.
• Train travel: Factor in terminal changes. The underground rumble.
• Slow walkers: Always. An obstacle course of carry-ons.
• Lost luggage: Less likely with longer layovers. More time to transfer.
• Airport amenities: Two hours. Coffee. A bookstore. A stolen moment. Watching the world go by. From behind glass. Separated. Yet connected.

My sister, Sarah, missed a flight once. Forty-five minutes. Not enough. Stuck in Atlanta. Overnight. Learned her lesson. Two hours now. Always. Like me. JFK. Once. Three hours. Bliss. A massage. Sushi.