Glossary · At the airport
What is a self-transfer?
Also called self-connect, self-transfer flight
A self-transfer is a journey where you book two separate flights that aren't on one ticket, so you're responsible for collecting your bags and checking in again for the second flight. It can be cheaper, but if the first flight is delayed the airline won't protect your connection.
Leave plenty of time between flights on a self-transfer, and allow for re-clearing security and immigration — a missed self-connection is your cost to bear, not the airline's.
Related terms
Updated July 2, 2026
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