In flight and airport terms, a layover is the time a passenger spends at an intermediate airport before continuing the journey to the final destination.
For example, if I travel from Lucknow to Bhubaneswar through Raipur, my journey may be:
Lucknow → Raipur → Bhubaneswar
If I arrive at Raipur Airport and have to wait for another flight to Bhubaneswar, the time I spend at Raipur Airport is called a layover.
For example, if my next flight departs after 2 hours, I have a 2-hour layover at Raipur Airport.
Things Travellers Must Know
- A layover means you have not yet reached your final destination.
- You normally have to leave the first flight and wait for your next flight.
- You may have to go through security again, depending on the airport, route and type of connection.
- If your flights are on the same booking, your checked baggage may be transferred to the final destination, but you should confirm this with the airline.
- If you have separate tickets, you may need to collect your baggage and check in again.
- Always check your next flight’s departure time and boarding gate during the layover.
- Keep enough time between connecting flights to comfortably complete any required formalities.
Note: A layover is different from a stopover. A layover generally refers to a shorter period between flights, while stopover is commonly used for a longer planned break in the journey.