By Shawn Gallagher
Let’s say you live in New York City and are considering booking a round-trip flight to Tokyo. Unfortunately, you waited until the last minute, so the direct flights between the cities are inflated in price. However, you do notice a cheaper option with Delta! The one caveat? You have a connection in Detroit, both ways.
This was me this past summer. I suddenly had to fly to Tokyo on late notice, and because of the last-minute trip, it meant that I had to deal with the higher cost. However, I did notice a significantly cheaper Delta flight with a connection in Detroit both ways, so I decided to take that.
So how did that turn out? Not so well, if you’ve read some of my previous posts. Read here about how I got stranded in Detroit for a night during my connection, trying to get home to New York.
This trip reminded me of the benefits of direct flights. Here are 3 big reasons why a direct flight is worth it for some extra cost.
1. No Connection, Less Delays
Flights are fairly on time, but you do get a delay every once in a while. When your trip includes layovers and connecting flights, your chancing of running into a delay or a cancelled flight increases.
You’re essentially relying on an additional flight or two to be on time, and increasing points of failures.
For example, had I taken a direct flight from Tokyo to New York instead of connecting in Detroit, I might have been able to dodge the weather issues as the direct flight would’ve arrived earlier in the day.
Trips with connectors, especially international trips, are already a long itinerary. You don’t want to risk creating an even longer journey.
2. Lowers Risk of Lost Luggage
If you fly often enough, this is bound to happen eventually. My luggage has been lost twice: once by United when I was a little kid traveling internationally with family and again by Japan Airlines a couple of years ago, also on an international itinerary. In both of these incidents, my luggage got lost during the layover.
Connecting flights is an additional point of failure for these bags. An error by a gate agent or a tight connection where the bags don’t make it in time are just a couple of examples of how this can happen during a layover.
Flying directly reduces the risk of your bags getting stranded somewhere; thus another reason that choosing direct flights can be better for your peace of mind.
Related: 5 things you should NEVER pack in your checked luggage
3. Time is Money
Travel can be time-consuming. I value time a lot when I fly internationally to Asia, so I usually opt for the direct flight. Business travelers will especially want to minimize connections and make the most of their time on the ground, so direct flights are key for them.
For example, what would be a 13 hour direct flight from New York City to Tokyo becomes an 18, 19, or even a 20 hour journey with a layover, depending on how long the connection is.
By going for a connecting flight, you’re adding more time to your itinerary while creating more inconveniences with the layovers.
Bottom Line
Of course, a lot of this comes down to how much you prioritize time and whether you’re in a hurry or not. However, realize the risks that get added to your trip when you choose to make a layover. I’m not saying you should dish out an additional thousand dollars to your itinerary, but when the price makes sense, the direct flight is worth it.