Airport basics
A practical reference for terminal shapes, layover-length categories, and where to go from here.
| Type | What it looks like | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Linear | A single long building, gates along one or both sides | Simple to navigate, but end-to-end walks can be long |
| Pier / finger | A hub building branching into narrow gate piers | Efficient layout, easy to walk the wrong pier |
| Satellite | Separate gate buildings reached by train, tunnel, or shuttle | Can require a transit ride just to reach a gate |
| Hub-and-spoke airport | Several terminals connected by a central circulation system | Terminal changes often mean a full security recheck |
| Length | Category | What it generally allows |
|---|---|---|
| Under 75 minutes | Tight | Only comfortable within one terminal, no recheck |
| 75–150 minutes | Comfortable | Typical for most same-terminal or simple connections |
| 150 minutes – 3 hours | Relaxed | Room for a proper meal or a short lounge visit |
| 3+ hours | Long | Enough time to rest, explore the terminal, or consider leaving if rules allow |
| Overnight | Extended | Needs its own sleep and logistics plan, covered in the overnight-layover guide |