Every so often, a headline pops up claiming airlines are shortening layovers or creating some new “tight connection trap.” If you’ve been seeing those stories lately, it might feel like Minimum Connection Times — the shortest legal connection airlines will sell — are getting smaller.
And really, when were you ever able to book an itinerary with a 15-minute layover?
But when you look at what’s actually happening behind the scenes, the reality is very different. In fact, airlines are doing more to protect connections than shrink them.
First, a quick reminder about MCT
I’ve already written a deep dive explaining what Minimum Connection Time really means and why a “legal” layover isn’t always a smart one.
The short version: MCT isn’t a recommendation — it’s simply the minimum amount of time airlines believe a connection can work operationally at a specific airport.
And those rules haven’t suddenly changed.
Airlines are actually adding buffer — not removing it
If airlines were trying to squeeze connections tighter, we’d expect to see schedules getting more aggressive.
Instead, the opposite trend is happening.
Carriers like American Airlines have been increasing block times and adjusting schedules to improve reliability and reduce missed connections. Industry analysis has noted that airlines are padding schedules to make operations more predictable, which indirectly helps connecting passengers.
That’s not what you’d do if you were trying to create shorter layovers.
Technology is being used to save connections, not break them
Another trend working against the “shrinking MCT” narrative is how airlines are using technology.
Tools designed to monitor connections in real time can:
- Notify gate agents when passengers are close to making a flight
- Briefly hold departures when feasible
- Help travelers navigate large airports faster
Coverage of these systems has highlighted how airlines are trying to make connections more efficient, not riskier — from American’s connection-focused tools to United’s ConnectionSaver updates in its app. Here’s how United describes the way the app now surfaces connection info and flight-hold decisions.
Again — that’s a strategy focused on reducing misconnects, not tightening the margins.
So why does it feel like layovers are getting shorter?
Because booking engines prioritize total travel time. When you search for flights, the fastest itineraries often rise to the top — and those frequently include tight but still legal connections. That can create the impression that airlines suddenly changed their policies, when in reality the Minimum Connection Times haven’t dramatically shifted.
Search tools are just showing you the fastest options first because they think that’s what people want.
Final Thought
Minimum Connection Times aren’t shrinking.
If anything, airlines are quietly doing the opposite — padding schedules, reorganizing hubs, and using technology to help passengers make their connections. But the most important takeaway hasn’t changed since my original MCT post.
Just because a connection is legal doesn’t mean it’s without risk or missing your flight, and sometimes the best travel strategy is giving yourself more breathing room than the airline requires.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
