What Minimum connecting time means
A connection only works if passengers and bags can physically make it. MCT puts a number on that. IATA's schedules standards define MCT as the shortest time needed to transfer a passenger and their luggage between flights, and state that MCTs must be observed by all ticketing and reservations outlets. Administration of MCT falls under IATA Passenger Services Conference Resolution 765.
MCT values are layered. Global defaults apply where nothing else is filed: 30 minutes domestic to domestic (DD), 1 hour domestic to international (DI), and 1 hour 30 minutes for international to domestic (ID) and international to international (II). Airport standard values override those, and airline-filed exceptions override the airport standard for specific carriers, flights, terminals or aircraft. Airlines can also file suppressions to block connections they do not want built.
Airport standards are agreed locally by airline operating committees and submitted to IATA. IATA says its Station Standard MCT product covers more than 400 highly connected airports. Carriers file their own exceptions with data aggregators, such as OAG and Cirium, which distribute MCT data to GDSs and other channels.
MCTs differ between online connections (same airline) and interline connections (different airlines). On codeshare flights, IATA's technical guide says MCTs are set by the operating carrier unless the marketing carrier overrides them.
How Minimum connecting time works
Booking systems compare each proposed connection with the most specific MCT that applies.
- Identify the connectionThe system looks at the arriving and departing flights, the airport, terminals and whether each leg is domestic or international.
- Find the applicable MCTIt checks airline exceptions first, then the airport standard, and finally the global default for that status type.
- Apply suppressionsIf an airline has suppressed connections at that point or with that partner, the connection is not built.
- Compare the timesThe scheduled gap between arrival and departure must meet or exceed the MCT for the connection to be offered.
- Offer or rejectValid connections appear in availability and pricing; connections below MCT are normally excluded from automatic itinerary building.
Minimum connecting time in practice
MCT values are written as four digits in hours and minutes, so 0130 means 1 hour 30 minutes. IATA's global defaults, used only where no airport or airline value exists:
| Status | Meaning | Global default |
|---|---|---|
| DD | Domestic to domestic | 0030 |
| DI | Domestic to international | 0100 |
| ID | International to domestic | 0130 |
| II | International to international | 0130 |
The global default for connections between two different airports in the same city is 0400. Exceptions can be numerous: OAG reports London Heathrow has 2,372 carrier exceptions on top of its published standards and Paris Charles de Gaulle about 10,160.
Who uses it
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Prevents systems from selling connections that passengers and bags cannot realistically make.
- Gives one industry standard that every booking channel can apply.
- Airline exceptions allow shorter, more competitive connections where operations support them.
- Protected connections on one ticket give a clear basis for rebooking when a delay causes a misconnection.
Limitations
- MCT is a minimum, not a comfortable buffer, and delays can still cause misconnections.
- The large number of exceptions makes it hard to see manually which MCT applies.
- Self-connections on separate tickets are not protected by airline MCT rules.
- Schedule changes can turn a legal connection into one below MCT after ticketing.
Frequently asked questions about Minimum connecting time
What happens if a connection is shorter than the minimum connecting time?
Booking systems normally will not build it automatically, so it will not appear as a valid connection in availability. IATA's standards note that MCT logic does not stop an agent creating point-to-point segments manually, but such an itinerary may not be protected, and airlines may require rebooking after a schedule change creates an illegal connection.
Is minimum connecting time different for international flights?
Yes. MCT is filed by status type: domestic to domestic, domestic to international, international to domestic and international to international. International transfers usually need longer because of passport control, security and baggage rechecks. IATA's global defaults rise from 30 minutes for domestic connections to 90 minutes for international-to-international.
Who sets the minimum connecting time at an airport?
The airport standard is agreed locally by the airlines operating there, through their local MCT group or airline operating committee, and submitted to IATA. Individual airlines can then file their own exceptions, longer or shorter, for specific flights, terminals or partners. Data aggregators distribute the combined data to booking systems.
Does minimum connecting time apply to separate tickets?
MCT data is used to build connections, but when a traveller books two separate tickets the airlines usually have no obligation to protect the connection. If the first flight is late and the second is missed, the second airline may treat the passenger as a no-show. Agents should allow a much longer buffer for self-connections.
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See the SaaS platformSources and further reading
- IATA — Standard Schedules Information Manual (SSIM) 2021, Chapter 8: MCT standards
- IATA — Station Standard Minimum Connecting Time (MCT)
- IATA — Minimum connecting time technical guide, version 2.2
- IATA — Minimum connecting time user guide, version 1.1
- OAG — Minimum connection times (MCTs): an insider's guide