Tips for not missing your connection flight and taking advantage of stopovers – 06/21/2023 – Tourism

It is not always possible to make a single flight to the desired destination. Connections may have to be necessary for many reasons, such as travel distance, aircraft capacity or even low demand in relation to the final destination.

Airlines and airports try to minimize delays and provide adequate layover times, but setbacks are not uncommon.

Therefore, it is important to take into account some factors when deciding how much time to leave for a connection. This includes the time required to clear immigration and security, the size of the airport and the possibility of gate changes. Also, consider airline policies regarding accommodations in the event of a missed connection.

It is also necessary to be aware of unpredictable factors, such as adverse weather conditions or the need for aircraft maintenance.

That was the problem faced by executive Matheus Gonzaga, who would have to make a work trip from São Paulo to Nuremberg, in Germany, in May. His flight had a connection in Barcelona, ​​but was delayed at the origin. Because of this, a trip that would last 20 hours ended up extending for almost 30 hours.

“The plane’s air conditioning was not working. We waited for repairs for two hours inside the aircraft and another hour and a half at the airport. When we arrived in Barcelona, ​​our plane to Nuremberg had already taken off”, he says.

According to him, the airline managed to allocate its working group and customers. But the executive would still have to pass through Palma de Mallorca, in Spain, before landing in Germany. “We went west to then go east, that is, we went backwards geographically.”

The trouble did not stop there. When they arrived in Nuremberg, nine hours late, Gonzaga and his group discovered that their luggage had not followed them to their destination. “We spent four days without our bags. We had to buy clothes for ourselves and for the clients. It was a lot of wear and tear.”

Anac, the National Civil Aviation Agency, does not establish specific determinations for connecting trips. To the report, the agency states that “the rule is freedom of supply” and that “airline companies are free to define the flights they offer, including connections”.

According to the entity, if the execution of the service occurs as planned —that is, without delays or cancellations—, the company is under no obligation to offer additional assistance, such as food, to the passenger.

On the other hand, in the event of delays, cancellations or service interruptions, it is up to the company to offer assistance to the passenger, depending on the waiting time at the airport.

In waits of more than one hour, the passenger has the right to communicate via internet or telephone. In delays of more than two hours, the company must already offer food.

For waits of more than four hours, the traveler is entitled to accommodation and transportation to and from the accommodation. In addition, the company must offer accommodation on another flight, full refund or performance of the service by another mode of transport (bus, for example).

A long connection is not always a problem. Project manager Larissa Ferreira, 26, for example, took advantage of this time to discover other destinations that were not foreseen in the initial trip.

When she traveled to Boston, in the United States, in 2018, the São Paulo native bought tickets departing from Rio de Janeiro. She took a bus trip to the neighboring state. “Even with the expenses with the bus ticket, it was worth it, because the value was well below what I would spend leaving my city”, she says.

The manager would still have one more step to reach Boston: a 15-hour connection in Atlanta. “I only knew about the series and movies, it was not a destination that I imagined myself visiting”, she says. “The bags stayed at the airport and I didn’t need to carry them around. I went to see the city, the mall, enjoyed the whole day”, she says.

When she returned to Brazil, she stayed a few more days in the Rio de Janeiro capital. “Rio became one more destination on a trip that was supposed to be to the United States”, she says.

Like Larissa Ferreira, the tourism businesswoman Andreza Pereira sees an opportunity in trips with stopovers. For her, before choosing this type of flight, it is only important to know exactly what you are looking for.

“A connecting flight is not necessarily cheaper than a direct one. If your goal is to visit more than one destination, I recommend a connection. If you want to save time, and that option exists, I recommend a direct flight”, he says.

It is with an eye on this possibility that some airlines began to offer the stopover proposal, a model that allows you to visit places like Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Doha, Panama City and São Paulo.

In it, the traveler can extend the stopover he would make in a city, from a few hours to a few days, having time to get to know the place, usually without additional fees or for low prices. It is common for companies to allow the extra stop only in the cities that are their main bases or in their home country.

TIPS TO AVOID PROBLEMS AT THE CONNECTION:

• Buy everything from the same company: choose tickets with the same airline and a single locator. That way, if something unforeseen causes you to miss your flight, you won’t have to pay for a new ticket.

• Allow enough time: when purchasing your ticket, please ensure there is adequate time between connecting flights. Take into account the size of the airport and the distance between the departure gates. If possible, avoid very short connections to have a safety margin.

• Avoid checking baggage: if possible, choose to take hand luggage only. In this way, you avoid the risk of your bag being lost or of delays in removing the conveyor belt.

• Check visa policy: Before planning out-of-airport activities during a long layover, check whether a visa is required to enter the country. Some countries allow transit passengers to exit the airport without a visa for a specific period of time, while others require a transit visa.

• If you have time, explore: many airports offer a variety of amenities and services for passengers. If the connecting city is interesting, get to know restaurants and sights.

SOME OF THE COMPANIES WITH STOPOVER:

air europe
Where: Madrid

Air France
Where: Paris

Blue
Where: São Paulo and Campinas
More info here

Copa Airlines
Where: Panama City
More info here

Goal
Where: São Paulo and Campinas
More info here

KLM
Where: Amsterdam

can
Where: Sao Paulo

Qatar Airways
Where: Doha
More info here

TAP
Where: Lisbon and Porto
More info here