2026 layover guide
New York (LGA) connection time
At LaGuardia Airport, plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h 40 min if you change terminals. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 30 min
By shuttle bus, with another security check
Switching means security again
Quick answer
Plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection at LGA, 1 h 40 min if you change terminals. Changing terminals means going through security again.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 50 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h 40 min by shuttle bus
- Hub airlines
- Delta Air Lines and American Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate20 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at LGA
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Domestic to domestic, same terminal Checked bags transfer automatically | 50 min Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
Domestic to domestic, changing terminals Includes another TSA check | 1 h 40 min Comfortable: 2 h 15 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around LGA
Terminals
Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal), Terminal B and Terminal C.
Changing terminals
The terminals aren't connected inside security. Shuttle buses run between them every 10–15 minutes outside security, so you'll clear TSA again.
Customs and international arrivals
LaGuardia's international flights come from U.S. preclearance airports such as Toronto and Montreal, so you arrive as a domestic passenger.
Tips for connecting at LGA
- •Delta is in Terminal C; American and most other airlines are in Terminal B.
Plan your trip through LGA
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
LGA connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at LGA and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 50 min for a domestic connection and 1 h 40 min when you change terminals.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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