Connecting flights, legal connection times, and self-transfers

A connection on one ticket is a protected itinerary. A connection you built from two cheap one-ways is a self-transfer. They look similar on a map. They are not similar when the first flight is late. Azurovia groups the same marketed itinerary. Read whether you have one confirmation or two.

Minimum connection time

Airports publish legal minimums by terminal pair. Airlines will not sell a single-ticket connection below that without an exception. That minimum is not a comfortable one. International-to-domestic at a US gateway includes immigration, bags, and TSA again if you are not on a sterile transfer. Add time if you need a wheelchair or are travelling with children.

Bags

On one ticket, bags are usually tagged to the final city, with a US customs exception: many international arrivals must collect, clear customs, and re-check even on one reservation. On two tickets, you almost always collect and check in again. Miss the second flight and the second airline can treat you as a no-show and cancel the rest of that ticket.

When a self-transfer is still used

Some city pairs have no single-airline one-stop. Travellers accept the risk, buy a long layover, and avoid checking bags. That is a plan, not a hidden metasearch feature. We will not present two unrelated tickets as if they were one protected fare.

If you misconnect on one ticket

Go to the operating airline’s transfer desk. They should rebook later flights on the same ticket. See delay rights. Azurovia cannot hold a flight.