Direct vs connecting flights: is the cheaper fare worth the stop?

The short answer: connections save money, nonstop saves time

A connecting flight is usually the cheaper option, and a nonstop flight is usually the quicker and simpler one. Google’s 2022 analysis of five years of Google Flights data found nonstop fares about 20% higher on average than flights with a stop, and its 2026 travel trends post gives a similar figure. Those are averages for trips from the US, so the gap on your route may be bigger, smaller or nothing at all.

The real question is what the saving buys you. A connection adds at least one extra take-off and landing, a walk between gates and the chance that a delay knocks the whole trip off course. Whether that is worth it depends on how much you save, how long the stop is, and how the trip is booked.

Nonstop, direct and connecting: what the words mean

Booking sites use these words loosely, so it pays to know the difference. The US Department of Transportation’s Fly Rights guide spells it out: a nonstop flight has no stops, a direct (or “through”) flight keeps one flight number but can stop on the way, and a connection means changing planes, usually with a different flight number for each flight.

One ticket or separate tickets: the difference that matters most

How the trip is booked matters more than the number of stops. When all your flights are on one booking, the CAA says you’re generally entitled to be looked after by the airline if a delay makes you miss your connection, and it works out compensation on your arrival time at your final destination. Heathrow’s advice for one-ticket connections is to rely on the minimum connection time your airline quotes when you book.

Separate tickets are a different deal. The CAA treats each booking as its own contract: if your first flight is late and you miss the second, you will probably have to buy a new ticket, and you have no right to care, compensation or onward travel from the second airline. Heathrow says minimum connection times don’t apply to flights booked separately. Our guide to self-transfer flights explains how to spot them.

Bags follow the same logic. DOT lists the chance of a bag going astray from lowest to highest as nonstop, direct, connection on one airline, then connection between airlines. Each change of plane is one more chance for a bag to miss the flight.

When to pay for nonstop, and when to connect

There’s no rule that fits every trip. These are the situations where we think each option makes sense; they’re our own advice, not rules.

• Pay for nonstop on short breaks, where a lost half-day matters, such as London to Paris or New York to London
• Pay for nonstop when you’re flying with young children, have a tight arrival plan, or need to make an event or a cruise departure
• Pay for nonstop in winter on routes through airports where snow or fog can cause delays
• Connect when the saving is large and the total journey is only an hour or two longer
• Connect on long-haul trips where a stop breaks up a very long day, such as London to Bangkok or London to Sydney
• Connect when it opens up a cheaper or better-timed flight from your local airport, such as Manchester to Delhi

Make a connection work

If you do book a connection, a few checks before you pay make it much less stressful.

1. 1Check it’s one ticket, not a self-transfer
2. 2Check the layover length: our guide on how long a layover you need covers airline minimums and our own buffers
3. 3Check whether you change terminals or airports, which needs more time
4. 4Flying through the US, allow for immigration and customs at the first US airport, and make sure you have an ESTA or visa even if you’re only changing planes
5. 5Check whether your bags are checked through to your final destination
6. 6Pack essentials in your hand luggage in case your checked bag misses the connection

Our verdict

Compare the total cost, not just the fare. Add up what the extra hours cost you, the price of food at the connecting airport and the chance of a missed connection, then compare that with the saving. If the difference is small, take the nonstop. If it’s large and the connection is on one ticket with a sensible layover, the stop is often worth it. For more ways to bring the price down, see our guide to how to find cheap flights.

Questions people ask