The idea behind booking separate flights is to give you the freedom in choosing your flight path and not be locked into expensive flights. 

I bought two separate tickets for my first out of country flight that I had booked. One ticket was a roundtrip between Atlanta to Boston, and the other was a roundtrip between Boston to Keflavík, Iceland. The reason I chose to do this was to capitalize on Boston’s cheap flight to Iceland. I understood the risk and dangers of doing so, but I did not realize this is out of the norm for most travelers. 

For me, booking separate flights was a huge cash saver, but there was a risk involved. The worst-case scenario would have been missing a connecting flight. Because I was the one who created my connecting flight path, a lot of the responsibility would have fallen onto me should something go awry.

No travel plans are risk-free, delays and lost luggage can happen on a single ticket as well. However, the risk does increase when you complicate your travel plans. Still, if planned properly you can reduce the risk to be nearly the same as a single ticket flight. 

Let me share with you some common sense I’ve used and some tips I’ve gathered over the years to make booking separate tickets as risk-free as possible. 

Booking Your Tickets

I don’t want to be pessimistic, but plan for the worst. By being prepared, your travels will have a higher chance of success. 

Extend your trip

Most of the risks involved with booking separate flights can be avoided by allowing enough time in between your flights. Delays can occur on your departure and your arrival, and these delays are impossible to predict. When planning out your trip, take an extra day for travel. It’s recommended to space 24 hours between your connecting flights. I don’t think it has to be 24 hours exactly, but I would recommend flying on separate days.

It does take up more time traveling, but you can make the most of it. Spend the first day of your trip exploring the city! Part of the experience is the travel to your destination. Take it slow and you might have a more satisfying experience. Remember, you will need to book a hotel in advance. Often, that’s still cheaper than purchasing a non-stop flight to your destination.

If you don’t want to extend your trip, you can space out your flights less than 24 hours. It’s not recommended because of the risks involved, but it is doable. Remember, you may be paying out of pocket if you miss a flight. At the very least, book your flights with enough wiggle room for hours of delays.

Know Your Airline’s Policies

While it’s safe to assume you will take all the responsibility of a missed flight, there is a sliver of hope if the worst-case scenario happens. Each airline has its unique policy and may rebook your missed connecting flight. This varies from airline to airline, but most domestic airlines will rebook connecting flights that were missed due to delays within their control. Unfortunately, this is usually for single ticket purchases. Still, it doesn’t hurt to know the policies of all the airlines you will be flying with!

Travel Insurance

You may also find a travel insurance plan that will cover your missed connecting flight due to delays. Again, you will need to read the fine print for caveats here. You may find that you must have scheduled adequate time between the flights to be covered. Always travel with a credit card or enough cash because you will need to purchase the ticket out of your pocket first. Then hopefully you’re eligible for reimbursement coverage. 

Certain credit cards offer travel insurance. So be sure to check the benefits included with the card you booked your flights.

Anticipate Weather

Not all airports are equal in delays from weather. I found this out the hard way on my honeymoon. The good news is that around 80% of all flights since 2015 have been on time. On the other hand, statistically, you have a one in five chance of being delayed or canceled. While you can’t predict the weather on the day you will fly, you can anticipate or be prepared for it. 

Here are the top 3 US international airports that are delayed by weather:

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – AVOID IN WINTER. ORD ranks the worst in airport delays due to weather. Chicago sees more snow than most of the northern airports. Due to the icy conditions delays are frequent in the winter months. This is the airport that my flight was canceled on the way to my honeymoon. Even during sunny days, ORD can experience a lot of delays due to wind.

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – There is little snow and few rainstorms at SFO, but fog and low clouds cause enough delays to make it number two on the list. You can anticipate potential delays during the morning of your flight. The fog can clear fast on sunny days, but any delay can be devastating without planning for flexibility.

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) – ATL is harder to anticipate since most weather delays are caused by thunderstorms. This is the world’s busiest airport so the smallest flight delay can trigger a domino effect on other flights. Thunderstorms can occur all year round, but summer has the highest volume of thunderstorms in Georgia. This shouldn’t be a hurdle if you spaced out your bookings.

If there is a high risk of cancellation with your first flight, it may not be worth the risk at all. Remember, if you miss your connecting flight, you’re not guaranteed a refund or compensation without proper planning. Keep this in mind when booking your flights. Oh, and remember when I said an airline policy may cover delays within their control? Well, the weather is usually out of the control of the airline, so you probably would not be entitled to a rebooking.

Packing

Alright, so you have your tickets and are feeling confident about your trip’s success. What else can you do to minimize the risk? Pack light.

Lost luggage can happen on any flight, but there is a greater risk when using two separate airlines. You will be responsible for getting your luggage between your flights, but if your checked bags become missing, it can slow down your trip. This means spending more time in the airport filing a luggage claim. Another reason to book plenty of time between your flights. Again read your airline’s policies and make sure they are capable of delivering your lost luggage to your final destination. If you’re unsure, give the airline a call.

There is good news! You can reduce the risk of losing your luggage to zero! Simply pack everything in a carry-on. If possible, I try to do this even with a single ticket flight. It removes a lot of hassles when flying. Don’t forget you’re always allowed to take a personal item as well. For me, that’s my backpack. While I do mostly fill it up with my laptop, GoPro, and Nintendo Switch. It can be packed in the same way as a carry-on.  Packing only a carry-on is not possible in every circumstance. So what can I do then?

Pack only essentials in a carry-on. Be sure to check what is legally allowed in carry-ons but pack whatever you might need if you were to arrive at your destination without your checked bag. This can be a change of clothes, travel-sized, toiletries or seasonal gear. Remember, this carry-on will have to board two separate planes. So be sure to check each airline’s carry-on dimensions and use a carry-on that fits the smallest dimensions. Some airlines do charge a small fee for carry-ons.

Enjoy the rewards

So you understand the risks and know how to minimize them now. All that’s left is to enjoy the savings! You can use this money elsewhere on the trip or save for another! Again, booking two separate flights can be extremely risky if not properly planned. Remember to add in all the extra costs of hotels and luggage. You may find that the difference isn’t worth it, even if it is cheaper. Other times you may find yourself saving hundreds of dollars on your trip! This option is not for everyone, but I do believe with enough planning you can minimize the risk involved!