Are flights with very short layovers risky?

It depends on whether it's a domestic or international connection, because with customs and baggage to check, 30 minutes is way too short and you end up running; if it's within the same country and your baggage goes straight through to your final destination, you can stretch it a bit more but it's still tight. The safest thing is to check with the airline what the minimum time they guarantee is, because each one has its own rules and if you miss the connection, that's on you.

The thing is, with super short layovers the problem goes way beyond whether you make it on time or not, because if your flight is delayed even 10 minutes you're already screwed! A trick that actually works is checking before you buy which terminal each flight leaves from, because sometimes they're at opposite ends of the airport and that eats up half your layover time. Also check carefully whether your baggage is checked through to your final destination or if you have to claim it, that totally changes things! Seriously, once you know those details, a 50-minute layover can be perfectly manageable or total chaos depending on the airport.

The factor that nobody really mentions is which airline operates those flights! There are some with a horrible reputation for tight connections because their operations are a mess, while others handle short layovers pretty well. If you have the option to choose between two similar itineraries, check out who's flying each leg, because that can make a huge difference between arriving relaxed or arriving saying a prayer!

With tight connections the risk is real, but a lot of people downplay a crucial factor: if you're traveling with checked baggage, the layover has to be long enough for your suitcase to physically transfer from one plane to the other, and that takes time! Even with a decent airline, 30-45 minutes is pushing it because a small delay on arrival or chaos at the airport leaves you stranded. If it's also an international flight, practically impossible. My recommendation is to look for layovers of at least 90 minutes if you're crossing borders and 60 if it's domestic, because the money you save isn't worth it when you end up missing a flight and paying for a last-minute change.

It's not that it's risky in itself, but there's a very narrow margin for error. A 45-minute layover or less for domestic flights can work perfectly fine if everything goes as planned, but the problem is that delays don't give you a heads-up. If your first flight arrives 10 or 15 minutes late - something pretty common - you're going to miss your connection, no getting around it. And that's not your fault or anything weird, it's just that the times are too tight.

What nobody can control is how the terminal works during that layover. There are airports where changing gates is a walk in the park and others where you have to cross half the city from one end to the other. On top of that, if your carry-on bag needs to be checked in, or if there's any small hiccup at the counter, you're already screwed. My advice is to check the terminal map carefully before you travel and, if possible, go for layovers of at least an hour for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international ones. It's a bit of peace of mind for a less stressful trip.