Advantages and disadvantages between direct and transit flights

Direct flights save time, reduce the risk of lost luggage or missed flights, while transit flights are cheaper.

Answering the question of whether to choose transit or direct flights for long-haul flights, the head representative of an airline ticket office based in Hanoi said that he often encounters the question of whether to fly transit or direct when customers book tickets to Europe.

Accordingly, a transit flight is a flight with at least one stop, usually common for long routes, flights between continents, with a travel time of 7-8 hours or more, or places where there are no direct flights. For example, from Hanoi to Paris (France), you can stop in Dubai (UAE), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Türkiye)...

It is difficult to say which form of flight has more advantages because it will depend on the needs and financial capabilities of each individual. Passengers should consider to choose the appropriate flight.

Heathrow Airport (London, UK) - one of the largest airports in the world, has many gates, so if not familiar, passengers can get lost or delayed during transit. Photo: AP

Fly straight

Flight times are specific, no need to move around much. This form is suitable for passengers who want to get to their destination quickly, but have to sit in one place for quite a while.

First-time travelers who are not fluent in English should choose direct flights. Direct flights also limit incidents such as lost suitcases and bags while traveling.

The price of direct flights is usually higher than that of transit flights, depending on the route and the airline.

Transit flight

Flight times may be longer than planned, and there may even be risks of multiple delays, missed flights, not being able to find the boarding gate, or losing luggage...

This form is suitable for people who have a lot of time, have experience traveling, are proficient in moving, know foreign languages and are not afraid of collision.

Transit flights are also suitable for those who do not want to be constrained, do not like to sit on the plane for too long, which can cause stress. These passengers may be people who like to explore. If the transit is 5 hours or more, they have the opportunity to register for a tour to visit the city or special destinations in the airport to relax.

Transit flights are usually cheaper than direct flights.

Some notes when flying transit

You should choose the next flight that departs at least 3 hours after the previous flight lands, to avoid the risk of missing the flight. Many airports are very large, you will spend time moving between gates.

When getting off the plane, passengers should look for signs indicating the transit area or ask airport staff. Note the local time at the airport.

In case you buy multiple flights from different airlines, you should consider the time between flights to complete transit procedures and get your luggage to send to the new flight, when the airlines do not automatically transfer (with low-cost airlines).

Carry-on luggage should be compact and easy to move around. You should have 1-2 sets of light clothes to change into when needed when landing at the airport or if your luggage is lost.

Tam Anh

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