Are some transit times simply too short for the traveller?

I definitely prefer a longer transit time, in fact my favorite is around 4-6 hours in places like HK or Singapore where I can take a fast train/taxi into the city, walk around the streets, have a local meal then back to the airport feeling like I have actually cleared my head of planes, airports, etc and done some well needed exercise. Then if I have time go to the lounge for a quick drink before going to the gate. This probably won't work for less efficient airports but is certainly achievable in HK and Singapore.

Whilst the article rests on the premise of lounge access availability time, there is a wider range of reasons why airlines keep intermediate layovers short. These include:

• available take-off banks and slots
• availability and timing of connecting flights

• aircraft utilisation factors
• regional weather issues

• tardy rejoining passengers
• costs incurred at 'partner' lounges (shorter time = lower cost)
• inconveniencing non-tier / Economy passengers

Some destinations are worse than others. On QF's 7 SYD-DFW service it seems that there is generally always a 3-4 hour wait between arrival in DFW and connecting at second tier cities with AA flights.

i regularly do the EK BHX-DXB and on to ADL flight - and there is never enough time to even get to the lounge as boarding has generally already started for onwards flight - so no i dont think there is enough time at all - but i understand as per above from kimshep why! not all of us have lounge access to enjoy a sit down

I much prefer longish transit times. Not only does it provide some relaxing time in the terminal or lounge, more importantly it provides a buffer of time in case the first flight is delayed. There is nothing worse than being anxious on a long-haul flight as to whether you'll make your connecting flight. If anything, I'd prefer to be bored for a little while than being anxious for several hours.

I always always have this issue with Cathay pacific flights. My corporate travel site doesn’t let me pick earlier departures (which would mean more transit time to enjoy those brilliant HKG lounges). Plus, their departures to HK are almost always delayed. As a result, I end up with less than an hour between my YVR/SFO arrivals to HKG and BLR/HYD departures (happens the other way around), I get just about enough time to shower, and go running to my gate (which, in that hot airport means I’m sweaty again by the time I reach the gate!).

Yes! I agree. I personally fly Qatar Airways a lot from London to Perth, connecting in Doha. Qatar Airways only each flies once per day to Australian cities. The Perth flight leaves Doha at about 2:20AM (+4 GMT). There are two Qatar Airways flights that arrive at Doha from London which are good for Perth departure. The QR4 (A380) leaves a 1:20ish hour connection time. The QR4 has the reverse herringbone seats which I Iike but not as much as the QR8 flight which has the new, fabulous QSuite seats. This flight leaves London around 4pm and arrives Doha at 1:10AM (+4 GMT). It is nice to get that flight which those amazing QSuites, however, that flight only leaves you a 50minute connection in Doha. Given how crowded Doha is at that time of the night, I rarely hit the lounge (which the Al Mourjan Lounge is fantastic) when arriving on the QR8.

Recently I flew QF1, and if I hadn’t known exactly where the Qantas Singapore lounge was, I would not had enough transit time to make the dash worthwhile. I had just enough time in the lounge for a shower and 2 rushed drinks of lemon barley water before the hike back to the lounge, where boarding had commenced.

A plane sitting on the ground is not making revenue.

David, with respect, I think you're drawing a very long bow with this one.

My 2 cents :

I think everyone is different and for me if im flying for business i want a quick transfer and minimal delays, for leisure i like to relax between flights, shower, nice meal and a drink etc. Having first lounge access certainly helps!

Internationally I'm usually flying SQ and always opt for a longer layover if possible. I'm just not interested in the stress of it all if my first flight is delayed. That being said, the staff at Changi are super efficient at facilitating these connections. I've gotten off delayed flights and seen a whole army of staff and golf carts ready to get people to their onward connections.

It is a bit short. Mostly because it doesn't leave a lot of room for something to go wrong on a leg. I don't really care about the lounge experience, I just want to get there.

The issue can be transfer time. On a 777 flight to Dubai that was parked out in the back blocks of the field it took us one hour to get to the terminal. The two hour transit time quickly became a mad scramble. I prefer a couple of hours at the least for a transfer but airliines don't like that as there is a temptation for more lounge time. I will call to book an earlier flight if it is not on the web and there is only a little over an hour transit time.

I prefer longer transit times when going to Europe, i’ll even overnight in the transit city. Stopping for a nice meal and a walk around Hong Kong or Tokyo is much preferred to the midnight dash in Dubai.

With more and more direct flights thanks to greater flying range, the stopover will become a thing of the past.

Yes, and the airlines are smart enough to make the cheapest connection city fares with the shortest connection times.

Well definately depends on the passenger. Those with lounge access like myself quite enjoy 2-4hr stops which makes me feel less stressed and yet not too long sitting around. Those without lounge access (the great majority of passengers, maybe 93-95 percent of the total passengers on the plane) prefer as short as possible to get to their destination (30-60mins). I find planes even in premium cabins not always so comfortable for like sleeping. But I do try to make each time I fly an experience to enjoy. So the lounge is part of that experience. Often also during my stopovers in the early morning or evening the showers are in demand so you may need to wait up to an hour to get in a shower.

I really enjoyed my Singapore airlines flights from Beijing to Perth i.e two ~5/6 hour legs. Have dinner in Beijing Friday night, leave around midnight, basically walk straight to the gate of the flight to Perth (i.e. stretch the legs), then arrive in time for a late lunch. Wouldn't make sense to extend the transit time, but I can understand if travelling long haul between time zones where this would make sense. Specifically thinking of SYD-SIN-LHR.

It depends on lounge as well, and how busy it is, doesn't it?

2 hours is the absolute minimum for a connection time for me. i have connected in dubai for 8-10 hours and it was actually bliss! two showers, a nap, lots of great food! it was awesome!

Any longer than the minimum needed to have a shower and not have to run between gates is fine with me. While it might be nice to have a drink and a bite in the lounge, you'll find yourself being fed and watered on the next leg anyway.

On business trips I just want to get there. Time spent on the ground connecting is just wasted time, if I miss a connection there’s another plane and it’s only really an issue if I’ve got meetings immediately on arrival.

They ain’t makin’ money sitting on the ground..

Completely agree. Too long to stay close and wait. Too short to enjoy the time refreshing and relaxing at the lounge in a positive way. As Phil says, it doesn't take much to miss a connection with these close times.

I've just enjoyed a very relaxing and leisurely jaunt between Australia and New York with CX via HKG. Being able to time my flights from Australia to HKG with onward departures gave me a nice 4-hour stopover in both directions. I was able to have a long soak in one of the glorious bathtubs in the cabanas followed by a light supper in the Wing First Class lounge on the way to the USA and a nice long shower, foot massage and a full four-course dinner on the way back to Australia. I loved being able to take my time wandering through the duty-free shops and actually catching my breath and enjoying the change of scenery in the lounges. It did make me think I'd still prefer a longer layover to the harried and frantic 90-120 minute ones we tend to see. Yes the overall travel time is longer but the sense of calm and relaxation has a range of other benefits.

When flying MEL-DXB on QF, and then onward to LHR/CDG/DUS with EK, the transit times were consistently too short to get my checked baggage unloaded from QF and then loaded onto my EK flight... even with a 60+ min transit. The number of times I arrived at my destination with no baggage was borderline ludicrous. Surprising for such a well-engineered hub like DXB!

If I connect to the same aircraft, such as the LHR-SIN-SYD flight, a short connection is great - delays don't matter. I rather hate short connections when say connecting from SYD to CBR domestically afterwards, with all these unpredictable customs, immigration, bus transfers etc.
While just stopping I don't mind the lounge and shower - if there proper arrival lounges / showers.

One of the great joys of flying can be the break between flights of over seven or eight hours. Imagine flying direct from Melbourne to LHR and connecting to Barcelona all in one day. Sadly in Perth the one and a half connection is barely sufficient for a shower; the two and a half break in LHR might be tight if a delay occurs. That is a total of more than twenty three hours of flying, albeit in J. With that schedule coming up in April, I would prefer a slightly longer transit time.

I do not think less than 2 hours is enough even for economy travellers without access to a lounge. We all need to stretch our legs, chill out and not stress about getting to our next flight

I flew to UK last year and on the way home, we were late leaving MAN, so late into Muscat. I made the next flight, but my checked baggage didn't. As I was returning home and staying in Melbourne for a few nights, it didn't matter--my case was delivered to my hotel the next day. In May, I'm going to Africa on holiday, booked as a sale fare. I was concerned that there is only 1 hour transfer in SYD, but to change it would cost $400. However, the lady at QANTAS said that if I missed the connection, I'd be re-routed with another airline if necessary. It's cheaper to lose a nights accommodation in Jo'burg and not have to stay in SYD, so I'm taking the risk. As I only fly for leisure, I'd prefer a longer transit time, but I understand everybody's opinions.