Are 2.5 hours enough for a layover in Rio?
I'm planning a trip to Brazil for this December, and I've already bought the flight to Rio and back. Now I have to book a second flight from Rio to Foz do Iguassu, that should depart as soon as possible after I get in Rio.
I'll land at 19.25, and there is an internal flight departing at 22.00. Would that be enough time to board the second flight?
Please note that I'm Italian and flying from Amsterdam, and I will have separate tickets, so I understood that I have to (retire the luggage,) pass through customs and check-in the second flight before boarding.
Also, in case I book with a flexible tariff, can I change the flight in case the first leg is delayed for some reason?
Best Answer
I'm back from my trip, and I thought I'd share my experience. The first flight departed on time, but landed half an hour late due to strong winds on the landing site. I started getting quite concerned about making it by then, with only 2 hours to departure and a check-in to do.
Moreover, there was quite a line at the passport check (it was quite fast anyway), and the luggage took some time to come out at the belt. Even though I was getting close to departure time, passing the customs was very fast, luckily, since they weren't doing much checking.
Anyway, despite the delay in landing I managed to check in on time with some rushing, but more time would be advisable to be on the safe side.
P.S. My second flight was delayed two hours, so I wasted a lot of effort :)
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Is 2.5 hour layover enough for international flight?
The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.Is a 2 hour layover enough to leave the airport?
If your layover time is just a few hours, never risk leaving the airport. You may have to clear the customs and go through other formalities at the airport, which takes time. You will have to clear the security again if you leave the airport and come back.How long should a layover be minimum?
Changing Gates For peace of mind, particularly when connecting in a large city, try to schedule a layover of at least 60 minutes. If you have gate-checked items or are traveling with someone with special needs, extend your connection time to 90 minutes if possible.Is 3 hours enough for a layover?
FYI: A long layover isn't one that's less than 3 hours, so let's not get dramatic! In fact, we recommend that you book at least an hour or more of a layover to give both you and your luggage time to catch your connecting flight.10 HOUR LAYOVER in Bogota (Travel Day to Brazil)
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Answer 2
Layoverguide for Rio suggests a minimum of four hours as a slot to allow a tiny viewing bit of the city. So assuming an hour outside, that still allows three, but that's tight for you.
Another traveller online suggests that they've gotten through customs in 30-60 minutes on several occasions, however have once missed a flight with a 1h45 layover.
You never know. Your first flight could be delayed three hours and then you're in trouble. If you CAN get a flexible fare that allows last minute changes, great, otherwise it's probably not worth the risk - book the next morning and maybe even leave the airport and explore overnight, if you're not one to suffer tiredness.
Alternatively you could get a hotel for the night and get rid of some of the jet-lag.
Answer 3
I flew Amsterdam-Rio last year, it landed more or less on time, maybe 20 minutes late, but there was an incredibly huge queue at the passport control, that took slightly over an hour. In case your flight is also an hour late, you'd miss the connection, and the flights to Iguassu are more expensive in the last minute. I really wouldn't recommend that connection leaving you 2.5 hours altogether, but as Joe Blow suggested, in case there's a later flight on the same day, that would be my choice.
Needless to say, make sure to check that your second flight is from the same airport in Rio.
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