Layover or direct flight? When a connection is smart

Direct is comfortable, but a connection can save a lot — and sometimes adds a free city.

When a layover pays off

• Price: connecting flights are often cheaper than direct.
• Reach: small destinations (islands) sometimes have no direct flight.
• Free stopover: airlines like TAP (Lisbon), Icelandair (Reykjavík) and Turkish (Istanbul) let you extend the layover into a mini city break at no extra airfare.

What to watch

• Connection time: aim for 1.5–3 hours on international trips.
• Baggage: checked through or collect yourself?
• Separate tickets: on self-booked legs you're responsible for a missed connection.

FAQ

Is a layover always cheaper?

Not always, but often — compare both.