As a continent, Europe is home to a wide variety of airports that see a good deal of connecting traffic. Located between Asia and the Americas, many of the flag carriers of its constituent nations leverage this strategic position to sell connecting itineraries through their main hubs. They are also useful for domestic passengers connecting to international flights. But how long do you need to transfer at these?
London Heathrow
For many years, London Heathrow (LHR) has consistently ranked as the largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom, as well as being home to the country's flag carrier British Airways. The oneworld founding member operates flights out of Terminals 3 and 5 at Heathrow, meaning that, while some connections are relatively straightforward, others require a more comprehensive transfer.
For this reason, BA advises passengers whose connection requires an inter-terminal journey to allow at least 90 minutes between their flights. For passengers connecting within the same terminal, this figure drops to just 60 minutes. Elsewhere, Heathrow advises passengers connecting in Terminal 4 after 20:30 local time to allow an extra 20 minutes, with the reason being ongoing airport works.
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Earlier this year, Simple Flying took a closer look at the best ways to make inter-terminal connections at London Heathrow Airport. In some cases, airside shuttle buses are provided, but landside connections require public transport.
Frankfurt
Germany's Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a key connecting hub for German flag carrier Lufthansa, and the Star Alliance founding member operates a myriad of flights from this sprawling facility. Despite its large size, with certain runways requiring rather lengthy taxi times, its minimum connection time is still rather short.
Indeed, Hamburg-based legal specialists MyFlyRight note that the figure given is just 45 minutes, regardless of whether the flights are domestic or international. Of course, some passengers may wish for a greater degree of padding.
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After all, this could potentially pose problems, given that Frankfurt Airport consists of two passenger terminals. However, most connecting itineraries at the airport will involve Lufthansa flights arriving at and departing from Terminal 1, minimizing the need for passengers to cut it fine with lengthy inter-terminal transfers.
Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM's Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) base is one of Europe's most notable connecting hubs, with over a third of its users being transit passengers. Simple Flying was among these in 2022 while traveling from Bremen to Norwich via Amsterdam. You should note that there are different minimums depending on the connection type.
Specifically, Dutch flag carrier KLM advises that the minimum connection time when transferring between flights between Schengen area destinations is just 40 minutes. This refers to 26 European countries between which flights have the ability to operate without border control checks. Meanwhile, if a non-Schengen flight requiring a passport check is involved, the minimum time increases to 50 minutes.
Paris Charles de Gaulle
Over in France, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is a popular airport among European travelers looking to leverage Air France's long-haul connections to visit the likes of Réunion and the French West Indies.
The website easyCDG refers to similar guidance to that provided by London Heathrow Airport, recommending 60 minutes for single-terminal transfers. Meanwhile, at least 90 minutes are needed for inter-terminal connections.
Madrid Barajas
Spain's Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) is an ideal facility for passengers visiting Spanish-speaking Central and South America, with Iberia serving many destinations in the region. The Spanish flag carrier recommends at least 45-55 minutes when connecting between its T4/T4S flights, and as many as 165 minutes when other airlines and terminals are involved in the transfer.
How many of these European hubs have you connected through on your travels over the years? Do you have a particular favorite? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Sources: British Airways, easyCDG, Iberia, KLM, London Heathrow Airport, MyFlyRight