When your trip includes connecting flights, knowing what to do or how to make the most of your free time on the ground makes for a much more enjoyable trip. Here we give you all the information you need to make the most of your connections and have a good time while waiting for your next flight.

I am waiting for a connecting flight. What can I do?

When you have to wait for a connecting flight, it is important that you manage your time well. So, always save some time for procedural matters, as, depending on the flight, its origin and destination, you may have to go through security formalities and passport control all over again before boarding your next flight.

After that, until it's boarding time, the airport offers many options to enjoy your free time:

– A wide range of shops and restaurants with great deals;

– A set of Family Services , which cater to all ages.

If you have a really long time to wait before the scheduled departure time, why not visit the city centre? Just rent a car or use the public transportation available at the airport. And don't worry about your baggage, we'll hold on to it for you.

I have a connecting flight with a single ticket and single check-in. What are the procedures to board the connecting flight?

This means you have a ticket for separate trips with the same airline or with different airlines, but with cooperation agreements regarding the processing of passengers and baggage between flights.

Therefore, you should enquire with the airline providing the first flight if your luggage will be automatically dispatched to your final destination, and confirm the procedures for boarding, which vary depending on the destination and origin:

CONNECTION	PROCEDURES FOR BOARDING A CONNECTING FLIGHT
I have arrived from a country outside the Schengen area and I am travelling to a country outside the Schengen area.	You must go through the security checkpoint.
I came from a country outside the Schengen area and I am travelling to a country inside the Schengen area.	You must go through the security checkpoint and passport control.
I have arrived from a Schengen country and I am travelling to a country outside the Schengen area.	You have to go through passport control.
I am travelling within the Schengen area or on a domestic flight.	No procedures are required. Just head to the boarding gate of your next flight.

Schengen area countries:
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland.

I have a connecting flight with separate tickets. What are the procedures to board the connecting flight?

This happens when you purchase two separate tickets, or fly with two airlines with no cooperation agreements regarding the processing of passengers and baggage between flights.

In such cases there is no automatic forwarding of baggage and check-in is done separately for each flight, which means that:

– If you are travelling with hold baggage, you will have to pick it up at baggage claim, go through the Customs corridor, head to the check-in or drop-off counter of the airline with which you will be flying next, and proceed as if you were boarding for the first time, having to go through security control all over again.

– If you are travelling only with cabin baggage, you have to go through the Customs corridor, head to the check-in or drop-off counter of the airline with which you will be flying next, and proceed as if you were boarding for the first time, having to go through security control all over again.