Self-Transfer Flights: Baggage, Boarding Passes, Passenger Rights & Key Tips

Booking flights independently can save you money — but self-transfer itineraries come with important details you must know before you fly. Whether you’re connecting across different airlines or booking through a flight aggregator, here’s how to handle self-transfer flights baggage, boarding passes, compensation, and more.

Check your compensation online.

What Is a Self-Transfer Flight?

A self-transfer flight is when you are responsible for managing your own connection between flights.

For instance, imagine flying from New York to London with Airline A, and then taking a separate flight from London to Paris with Airline B. Because these flights are booked independently, they’re not linked in the airline’s system — meaning you’ll need to collect your baggage, clear security and immigration, and check in again for your next flight.

This type of travel takes a bit more effort to organize, but it can also be cheaper and give you more choice over airlines, routes, and flight times.

What does self-transfer flight mean? A self-transfer is when you book two or more flights separately. It’s not an airline-made connection. You are less protected with self-transfers.

How Do You Know If Your Flight Is a Self-Transfer?

Not sure whether your trip involves a self-transfer? Here are a few simple ways to tell:

1. You booked your flights separately. If you made multiple bookings for the same journey, you almost certainly have a self-transfer. Each flight is treated as its own trip, even if the layover is short.
2. There are different booking numbers. Check your confirmation emails. If you have separate booking numbers or itineraries for each flight, they are not linked. Each airline manages only its own flight, even if you booked all flights together through a site like Kiwi or Skyscanner. Try checking the flights on each airline’s website — if you can only see one flight per booking, it’s a self-transfer. Most booking sites clearly mention this before you pay.
3. Flight legs are operated by different airlines. If your journey involves multiple airlines, especially when booked through a third-party website rather than directly with a single carrier, there’s a good chance it’s a self-transfer. To confirm, look up your booking on each airline’s site. If the flights don’t appear together under a single reservation, they’re separate.
4. Flight legs leave from different airports. If your itinerary involves changing airports between flights, it’s almost certainly a self-transfer. Traditional connecting flights rarely require passengers to move between different airports.

Are Self Transfer Flights Safe? How to Make Them Safer?

Self-transfer flights are generally safe, but they carry more risk since you’re responsible for making your own connection. To stay protected:

• Allow extra time. Plan at least 4 hours between flights to handle delays, customs, immigration, and baggage collection.
• Know your airports. Check the layout and transfer process in advance so you can move quickly and confidently.
• Buy travel insurance that includes “missed connection” coverage. This can help cover the cost of new flights, accommodation, or other expenses if you miss a connection because of a delay, cancellation, or overbooking — even on self-transfer itineraries.

Self-Transfer Flights: Baggage

Baggage is not automatically transferred between airlines on self-transfer flights because these flights are booked separately, so they’re not linked in the airline’s system.

Here’s what happens to baggage on self-transfer flights:

• You need to collect and recheck your luggage at the layover airport.
• Always allow extra time for customs, immigration, and re-check-in.

If you have two or more Ryanair flights, your baggage won’t be transferred between them. The same applies to easyJet, Wizz Air, and other budget airlines that don’t offer connecting flights. These low-cost carriers sell each flight separately, so they’re not part of one ticket — meaning it’s not a true connection.

If you’re switching between terminals or airports (e.g., London Heathrow to Gatwick), you must carry your bags with you.

Tip: Use carry-on luggage only — it eliminates the need to collect and recheck bags during your connection.

Boarding Passes on Self-Transfer Itineraries

Because you’re traveling on separate tickets:

• You must check in separately for each flight.
• You won’t be able to get both boarding passes at once.
• Some airlines allow online check-in up to 24–48 hours before departure — do this in advance to save time.

If online check-in isn’t available for your next flight, head straight to the airline’s check-in desk after landing. Always allow extra time. Plan at least 4 hours between flights to handle delays, immigration, baggage collection and check-in procedures.

What to Do if You Miss Your Self Transfer Flight?

If you miss your next flight on a self-transfer itinerary, don’t panic — here’s what to do:

1. Buy a new flight. Go to the missed airline’s customer service desk right away. They might offer a seat on the next flight, but usually, you’ll need to buy a new ticket — and last-minute fares can be costly.
2. Find accommodation. If there’s no same-day flight available, look for nearby airport hotels. Keep in mind that the airline won’t cover these costs on a self-transfer trip.
3. Stay calm. Delays and missed connections happen. Take a moment to breathe, assess your options, and plan your next steps calmly and efficiently.
4. Know your passenger rights. Even with separate tickets, you still have rights for each individual flight. If your first flight was delayed or cancelled, you may be eligible for flight compensation under EU261 or UK261. You also have a right to care — such as food, refreshments, a free hotel room — during long delays. If the airline doesn’t contact you, reach out to them directly.

Do You Need a Visa for a Self-Transfer Flight?

“Do I need visa for self-transfer flight” is one of the most popular questions about self-transfers.

You might — it depends on the countries you’re traveling through.

On a self-transfer flight, you often need to leave the secure transit area to collect and recheck your baggage or check in again. This means you may have to enter the country, even if it’s just for a short time.

If that country requires a transit or entry visa for your nationality, you’ll need to obtain one before you travel. Some countries only require electronic travel authorization, while others offer a visa on arrival. Always check the specific entry requirements in advance to avoid problems during your trip.

Self-transfer flights can unlock cheaper routes and flexible combinations — but they require careful planning.

Featured photo by Atlantic Ambience from Pexels