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Book your first and second flight as separate tickets rather than through a single booking - budget airlines almost never sell genuine connections, so you're on your own if the first leg is delayed. That said, you'll want a decent layover (couple hours minimum depending on airport size) since you're responsible for making your second flight. Check baggage policies carefully too, because most budget carriers charge per bag and won't transfer luggage between separate bookings, so you might need to collect and recheck your stuff. Do you have a specific route in mind, or are you trying to figure out if connections even make sense for your trip?
Donna Robinson asker
Domestic US route, 4-hour layover, both flights under $150 total so connections make sense financially.
The thing nobody always mentions is that you need to give yourself a realistic buffer between flights when you're doing separate tickets. Most people just look at the clock and think "two hours, that's fine" - but with budget airlines at smaller airports, you might be landing at one terminal and your next flight leaves from somewhere totally different. I'd honestly aim for at least three hours between connections, maybe more if it's an unfamiliar airport. You're eating the cost yourself if you miss that second flight, so padding your time is cheap insurance.
Also worth noting: check if your luggage actually transfers between airlines. Some budget carriers won't put bags through to your final destination even if you bought separately, so you might need to collect and recheck anyway. That means you definitely need enough time to grab your bags, get through security again if required, and still make your gate. It's annoying, but knowing this upfront saves you from panic at the airport. download the app for each airline and get real-time updates - don't rely on the airport's systems to tell you what's happening with your second flight if it's a different carrier.
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