Layover vs stopover vs connection: what's the difference?
A layover (or connection) is a short stop between two flights on your way somewhere: under 24 hours on an international trip, or under 4 hours on a US domestic one. A stopover is a longer, planned stop, past those limits, often to visit the city. Airlines price and treat the two differently.
Updated October 2026
The terms side by side
| Term | What it means | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Layover | A stop between two flights on the way to your destination, often changing planes | Under 24 hours international, under 4 hours US domestic |
| Connection | Another word for a layover, often used for short ones | From about 30 minutes to a few hours |
| Stopover | A planned stop beyond the layover limit, often to spend a day or more in the city | Over 24 hours international, over 4 hours US domestic |
| Nonstop flight | One flight from origin to destination with no stops | — |
| Direct flight | One flight number, but the plane may stop on the way, sometimes without you changing planes | — |
Why the difference matters
- Price: fares are built around layovers. Adding a stopover can change the fare, though some airlines offer free stopover programs at their hub.
- Bags: on a layover, checked bags usually go through to your destination. On a stopover, you typically pick them up.
- Entry rules: a stopover means entering the country. A layover may keep you airside, except in the US, where every international arrival clears customs.
Making the most of a layover
Most layovers are too short to leave the airport but long enough to do something. See what to do on a layover, how long a layover should be, and our airport layover guides.
The rest of the answer.
What is a layover?
A layover is a stop at an airport between two flights on the way to your destination, usually changing planes. Internationally it's under 24 hours; on US domestic trips, under 4 hours.
What is the difference between a layover and a stopover?
Length and intent. A layover is a short stop between flights, while a stopover is a longer stop, over 24 hours internationally or 4 hours on US domestic trips, often to visit the city.
Is a layover the same as a connection?
Yes, the two words mean the same thing in everyday use: the time at an airport between two flights.
Do I get my bags during a layover?
Usually not, if both flights are on one ticket: bags are checked through to your final destination. The big exception is arriving in the US from abroad, where you collect bags at your first US airport, clear customs and recheck them.
What's the difference between a direct and a nonstop flight?
A nonstop flight goes straight to your destination. A direct flight keeps one flight number but may stop on the way, sometimes with passengers getting on or off.
Got a layover coming up? Let LYVR plan it.
Free, in your browser. LYVR finds the layover, times every walk and fills the gap.
Plan my layover →About these numbers
Times here are general rules of thumb from airline connection rules and LYVR's own walk-time and checkpoint data, not official minimums. Entry rules depend on your passport; confirm with the country's immigration authority and your airline before you travel.