What is the minimum connection time at Atlanta airport (ATL)?

The minimum connection time at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) is 35 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 60 minutes for any connection involving an international flight. These are the airline-published minimums; add a 20–30 minute buffer for comfort.

How long do I need for an international connection at Heathrow (LHR)?

The recommended minimum connection time at London Heathrow (LHR) is 90 minutes for international connections. If changing terminals (e.g., T3 to T4), allow at least 2 hours as the transfer involves a bus. Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world and security queues can be long.

Minimum Connection Times at Major Airports (2026)

Airlines publish Minimum Connection Times (MCTs) — the shortest legal layover for each airport and connection type. These are the floors; we recommend adding buffer time on top.

US Hub Airports

Airport	Dom–Dom	Dom–Intl	Intl–Dom	Intl–Intl
ATL (Hartsfield-Jackson)	35 min	60 min	60 min	60 min
ORD (O'Hare)	40 min	90 min	90 min	60 min
DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)	40 min	60 min	60 min	60 min
LAX (Los Angeles)	30 min	120 min	120 min	60 min
JFK (John F. Kennedy)	40 min	90 min	90 min	60 min
MIA (Miami)	45 min	120 min	90 min	60 min
DEN (Denver)	30 min	60 min	60 min	60 min
SEA (Seattle-Tacoma)	40 min	90 min	90 min	60 min

International Hub Airports

Airport	Recommended Minimum	Notes
LHR (London Heathrow)	90 min	Terminals connected by bus; allow more for T3/T4 changes
FRA (Frankfurt)	45 min	Very efficient; Terminal 1 and 2 linked by SkyLine train
DXB (Dubai)	90 min	T1 and T3 are separate buildings requiring transit
AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol)	40 min	Single terminal, Schengen to non-Schengen requires extra time
SIN (Singapore Changi)	60 min	One of the world's most efficient; 5 terminals connected
CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle)	90 min	T2 alone has 7 sub-terminals; bus transfers between T1/T2/T3
DOH (Doha Hamad)	45 min	Single connected terminal; Qatar hub

How Much Buffer Should You Add?

Domestic–domestic (same terminal): MCT + 20–30 min. At ATL this means 55–65 min is comfortable.
Domestic–international (clearing customs): At least MCT + 30 min. LAX Intl transfers can take 2.5–3 hours if customs lines are long.
International hub with terminal change: Allow 2–3 hours minimum. LHR, CDG, ORD all have long terminal transfers.
General rule: If your connection is booked by the airline (on a single ticket), they're responsible for rebooking if you miss due to a delay. Self-connecting (separate tickets) puts the risk on you — add 90–120 min buffer.