Part 3 - Transfers
Basics
Most airlines in the world uses the hub-and-spoke network to route their flights. An airline may select many designated airports that have large markets as hubs and route flights from surranding cities that have a smaller market to the hub in order to improve operating efficiency and increase ticket sales. Passengers can fly to their destinations by making connections at the hub airports.
For instance, Sun Country Airlines in the U.S. uses MSP airport as its main hub.
Route map of Sun Country Airlines 1
Similarly, Singapore Airlines uses SIN, Cathay Pacific uses HKG, Asiana Airlines uses ICN and etc.
Most of the time, an flight iternary with connecting flights are usually cheaper than direct / non-stop flights as we need to spend some time in the hub airport to make the transfer to connecting flights and make the whole trip longer. However, based on the previous parts of the article, we may be able to turn the layover into a day-trip.
Info
Most fare rules consider layovers under 24 hours as transfers unless specified otherwise.
Example
Consider the following iternary:
Flight iternary with Singapore Airlines from SYD to BKK on Feb 12th, 2025
SYD SQ X/SIN SQ BKK 203.16V95AUOD1 NUC 203.16 END ROE 1.516025 XT 70.00AU 6.64WG 39.33WY 3.50L7 7.00SG 1.60E7 0.70G8 31.10YR
UNLIMITED TRANSFERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT.
FARE BREAK AND EMBEDDED SURFACE SECTORS NOT PERMITTED
ON THE FARE COMPONENT.
V FARE BASIS BK FARE TRAVEL-TICKET AP MINMAX RTG
1 V95AUOD1 VO 198.00 ---- - -/ - EH01
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT AUTO PRICE-YES
FROM-SYD TO-BKK CXR-SQ TVL-12FEB25 RULE-HO91 IPRPG/8
FARE BASIS-V95AUOD1 SPECIAL FARE DIS-E VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-XOX OW-ECONOMY CLASS ONE WAY EXCURSION FARE
AUD 308.00 0191 E12OCT22 D-INFINITY FC-V95AUOD1 FN-PA
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 25JUN24/1115 EXPIRES INFINITY
PUBLISHED RTG SYD-BKK/SQ191 /TAR-TGRG EF-26JUN24 DIS-INDEF
/WITHIN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE/
MAP CONSTRUCTED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT
1. SYD-SQ-SIN-SQ-BKK
Based on the fare rule shown above, we can see that this trip only allows a transfer at SIN to connect to another SQ flight to BKK after we arrived on a SQ flight from SYD. To search for other available flights, we can use ITA Matrix to search again with routing code SQ+ (one or more flights on Singapore Airlines) and it gives the following alternative iternaries that share the same fare rule / price.
Alternative iternaries
Optimized iternary
We may select the above iternary with a connection that is quite close to 24 hours, so that we can enjoy a night in Singapore and explore the city before hopping on the next fligth in late-afternoon to continue the journey to Bangkok at the same price.
Info
For some airports in other countries, you may be charged with local airport tax and/or security screening fee if you have a long layover. Thus, the prices of the ticket may increase a little bit.
In this case, the fare construction for the optimized iternary is same as before.
SYD SQ X/SIN SQ BKK 203.16V95AUOD1 NUC 203.16 END ROE 1.516025 XT 70.00AU 6.64WG 39.33WY 3.50L7 7.00SG 1.60E7 0.70G8 31.10YR
Extra Perks
Transit Tour
Some airlines / airports may offer transit tours as a perk to connecting passenges in order to attract passengers and promote tourism for local area. It's free for most of the times but may subject to terms and conditions.
A reservation may be required before your trip commence by sending an email to the airline, go to the transfer counter when you arrive, or through other means. Check with tour providers for details.
Free transit tour offered by Singapore Airlines 2
For instance, Singapore airline offers free transit tour for passenges with a transit time of over 5.5 hours and within 24 hours.