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šāāļø How to avoid missing your connection
Plus, stay connected while you travel
McKay Moffitt
April 18, 2026
Well helloooo, weekend crew! š
Gosh, I just miss ya during the week, ya know?
Not to alarm anyone, but summer is right around the corner.
Flights are being booked, group chats are getting increasingly active, and calendars are filling upā¦
As we approach all the fun, letās chat about a few quick travel things.
š¤ Thereās a rare 20% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan (ends April 30!).
šļø Earn points (or credits) back on everyday purchases with these merchant offers.
šØ Hyatt fans can score 500 bonus points per night right now.
šø Try something new and check out this spot for cherry blossoms (for cheaper).
š¤ Want to see a concert in another city for FREE? Hereās how.
š„ Learn how to maximize Marriottās hotel program in this weekās Daily Drop YouTube video.
š Our Favorite Pick: Letās talk about tight layovers
There are two types of travelers.
The ā45-minute layover is totally doableā peopleā¦
And the āIād rather sit at the gate for two hours than risk itā people.
Iāve lived both lives. Iāve āHannah Montana-ed,ā if you will.
Unfortunatelyā¦ Iāve learned the hard way.
Gather āround, kids ā quick storytime with Aunt KayKay. šµ
A few years ago, I had a tight connection in Dallas Fort Worth Airport on the way to Amsterdam. It looked fine on paper. In reality, it turned into a full sprint across the airport with everything I owned for the next few weeks strapped to my back.
We made it to the gate as they were basically closing the door, and my friend and I were the last two people to board. Fully out of breath. Sweating. Then immediately sitting down for an 8-hour flight like my heart rate wasnāt just pumping in the 185-range. Humbling. Truly.
Since then, Iāve had some thoughts on layovers.
The annoying answer is thereās no perfect rule.
You can do everything ārightā and still get delayed, stuck taxiing, or caught in a slow-a** security line.
Youāre not eliminating riskā¦ youāre just trying not to ruin your day.
If you want a loose starting point, hereās what Iād go by:
Domestic to domestic: 60 to 90 minutes
International to domestic: 90 to 120 minutes
International to international: 2 to 3 hours
Yes, you could go shorter.
But youāre basically betting your entire day on everything going perfectly, which, in air travel, is bold.
And if youāre like me, you might end up doing some involuntary cardio in an airport you didnāt plan to explore that way.
By the time you factor in deplaning, walking (or speed-walking), security, immigration, and gate changes, that 75-minute layover disappears fast.
A couple of things Iām way more careful about now:
One ticket vs. separate tickets
If everythingās booked on one ticket, the airline has to help you if you miss your connection.
Separate tickets? Good luck, soldier.
Youāre on your own, and that could mean buying a last-minute ticket.
Positioning flights
Same idea-ish here.
If youāre flying to a major hub to catch a better long-haul deal, give yourself plenty of time.
Or even yet, turn it into a little stopover, which is way less stressful (and way more fun!).
š Helpful Guide: If you want a deeper dive on which airports are easiest for that, this guide breaks it down really well.
Why the actual airport matters
Some places are easy. Othersā¦ are not.
If youāre connecting through somewhere like London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, or John F. Kennedy International Airport, just assume everything will take longer and plan accordingly.
At this point, my philosophy is pretty simple: Iād rather have extra time and not need it than be sprinting through an airport with my entire wardrobe on my back again.
Once was enough. š
āļø One More Pro Tip: Lounges change the game here. Once you go lounge, you never go back. And, several top credit cards give you lounge access, like this fan-favorite and this other one we love.
Ok, sorry, one last thing!
When youāre thinking about connections, it also pays to have (1) travel insurance and (2) some good apps downloaded on the old cellular device.
I linked some guides to both of those for you in case youāre craving even more weekend reading time. ā¤ļø
š² On the subject of practical travel
Ok, one more quick thingā¦ because itās genuinely so helpful!
Earlier this week, Mike dropped the words, āsingle favorite travel tool.ā
Naturally, we all simultaneously pressed our ears to the door. š
What was he talking about, you ask? eSIMS!
What the heck is an eSIM? Itās basically a digital SIM card built into your device that lets you connect to mobile networks without swapping a physical card.
Our friends over at Airalo eSIMs have it going on, with things like:
An elite status program
Their own portal
Stacking opportunities
And tons more!
If youāre traveling anytime in the future and plan to use technology (so, likeā¦ everyone?), prepare beforehand with an eSIM. Youāll be so glad.
š This Weekās Must-Reads
 | 3 Best Ways To Use 75,000 UR Points In this article, weāre looking at all things travel portals, high-value hotel and airline transfer partners, and what discounts you could snag along the way. |
 | Can You Get a Business Credit Card Without a Business? You donāt need an LLC or employees to get a business credit card. If youāve got a side hustle, you might already qualify ā hereās what you need to know. |
 | The Easiest Way to Turn Capital One miles Into a Free Trip See how to use Capital One miles at one cent per point to cover flights, hotels, and more in these three popular destinations, all from one welcome offer. |
š Week in Review
Monday: š§ My single favorite travel tool
Tuesday: šØ Get a 40% rebate at Marriott hotels
Wednesday: āļø How tight is too tight for a layover?
Thursday: š¤ How to see a show in another city (for free)
Friday: šø The cheaper way to see cherry blossoms
Aaaand, thatās a wrap!
Go get some fresh spring air, and weāll do this again real soon. š¤øāāļø
Love yaaaaaa,
With contributions by Mike Dodge and Sam Anthony