2026 layover guide
Phoenix (PHX) connection time
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h 35 min if you change terminals, and 2 h 20 min if you're arriving from abroad. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 30 min
By PHX Sky Train, with another security check
Customs, bag recheck and security
Switching means security again
Quick answer
Plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection at PHX, 1 h 35 min if you change terminals and 2 h 20 min after an international arrival. Changing terminals means going through security again.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 50 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h 35 min by PHX Sky Train
- From abroad
- 2 h 20 min, including customs and bag recheck
- Hub airlines
- American Airlines and Southwest 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 PHX
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 35 min Comfortable: 2 h 15 min |
International arrival, connecting domestically Customs, bag recheck and TSA | 2 h 20 min Comfortable: 3 h 15 min |
Same, with Global Entry and PreCheck Faster customs and security | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 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 PHX
Terminals
Terminals 3 and 4.
Changing terminals
The PHX Sky Train links Terminals 3 and 4, but only outside security, so switching terminals always means another TSA check.
Customs and international arrivals
Arriving from abroad, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), collect your checked bags, drop them at the recheck belt and go through TSA security again before your connection. All international flights arrive at Terminal 4; if your connection leaves from Terminal 3, take the Sky Train there.
Tips for connecting at PHX
- •American and Southwest both use Terminal 4, so most connections on those airlines stay in one terminal.
Plan your trip through PHX
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
PHX connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at PHX 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, 1 h 35 min when you change terminals and 2 h 20 min after an international arrival.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport official website
- Phoenix Sky Harbor help center: how do I connect to another flight?
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