connecting flight

Meaning

A flight that requires a passenger to change planes at an intermediate airport before reaching their final destination. It involves a layover or transit period between the two legs of the journey.

Examples

• I only have forty minutes to catch my connecting flight in Chicago.

  I only have forty minutes to catch my connecting flight in Chicago.

• If our first flight is delayed, we might miss our connecting flight.

  If our first flight is delayed, we might miss our connecting flight.

• Do I need to collect my bags before boarding my connecting flight?

  Do I need to collect my bags before boarding my connecting flight.

• She booked a connecting flight because it was much cheaper than a direct one.

  She booked a connecting flight because it was much cheaper than a direct one.

• The airline rebooked us on a later connecting flight after the storm.

  The airline rebooked us on a later connecting flight after the storm.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have a connection flight in Paris.

  ✓ I have a connecting flight in Paris.

  While 'connection' can be used as a noun (e.g., 'I have a tight connection'), the standard term for the flight itself uses the participle 'connecting'.

• ✗ I need to take a connected flight.

  ✓ I need to take a connecting flight.

  The word 'connected' implies the physical joining of objects, whereas 'connecting' describes the function of linking two parts of a journey.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We have a three-hour layover before our ___ to Tokyo.

  💡 The second plane you need to board to reach your destination.

  Show answer

  connecting flight

• Will my luggage go straight through to my ___?

  💡 The next flight in your itinerary.

  Show answer

  connecting flight