A passenger flies to an intermediate airport, changes aircraft, and continues to the final destination under a single ticket. That itinerary uses a connecting flight. It allows travel between cities that lack nonstop service.

Minimum connection times are set by airports and airlines to allow for deplaning, possible security or immigration steps, and boarding the next flight. Tight connections raise the risk of missed departures when the first flight is delayed. Baggage is usually checked through to the final destination on a single ticket, though this is not guaranteed on all itineraries.

Airlines design hub-and-spoke networks around connections. Passengers trade total travel time and convenience against lower fares or greater route choice. Missing a connection triggers rebooking obligations that vary by airline and fare rules.

A successful connection feels seamless; a missed one becomes the dominant memory of the journey.