A transit flight shows what a cheap ticket is usually paid for with: time. You reach most destinations with no direct flight from Baku precisely by transit, and that is not a bad thing in itself. The trouble starts when the time left between the two flights is calculated wrongly. Below I have written how much time to leave and what to watch in transit.
How much time to leave on a transit flight
| Same ticket, same terminal | At least 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Same ticket, terminal changes | At least 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Separate tickets | At least 4 hours |
| Entering or leaving Schengen | Add 1 hour for border control |
The most important difference is between one ticket and separate tickets. On a single ticket, if the flight is delayed the airline moves you to the next flight free of charge. With separate tickets there is no such obligation and the second ticket is simply lost. When you choose the cheap option, add that risk to the price.
Where the baggage goes
On a single ticket the baggage is usually checked through to the final point and you do not touch it. Be sure to ask about this at check-in, because in some countries, the United States for example, you have to collect the baggage at customs and hand it in again.
With separate tickets you collect the baggage yourself each time and check it in again, and that takes at least an hour. Keep valuables, medicine and one change of clothes in your hand luggage, because the chance of baggage being delayed is higher in transit than on a direct flight.
Do you need a visa in the transit country
If you do not leave the international zone, most countries require no visa. But there are exceptions and you cannot set out without knowing them. Britain, Canada and the United States require a visa for transit too, even if you do not leave the airport.
If you are transiting in a Schengen country and the second flight goes outside the Schengen area, you have to pass through border control, and that means a visa. With separate tickets, meanwhile, you have to leave the zone to collect the baggage, and a visa is required there too. Be sure to check these two cases before buying the ticket.
Turning a long transit into a trip
If the wait is longer than eight hours, going into the city is often possible. The airports of Doha, Istanbul, Dubai and Singapore offer special programmes for this, some of them a free city tour and even a hotel. The condition is that the entry regime suits you.
If you are going into the city, keep at least three hours in reserve for getting back. Settling the transfer in advance saves time here, because losing an hour in a taxi queue is easy. Ordering the airport transfer in advance is the most comfortable solution on short transits.
Practical details
Check in online for both flights before you fly; that removes the queue entirely. Keep your phone and a power bank with you, because finding a socket is difficult at some airports. On a long wait, check the airport’s site for whether there is a rest area or a shower service. Official information on passenger rights is set out on the IATA site.
In brief
A transit flight is built on the arithmetic of time, and the biggest risk lies in separate tickets. Choose a single ticket, allow for a change of terminal, check the transit country’s visa regime in advance. To plan the route and the visa together, fill in the application form.
Note: transit visa rules vary by country and nationality, so confirm them with the consulate before buying a ticket.
