1 hour 20 minutes enough transfer time through Budapest Airport?

Question

I am travelling back to London from Montenegro and this is via Budapest. The layover at Budapest is 1 hour 20 minutes. Is this enough time to get through the airport and make my second flight? Both flights are with wizzair.

Answer 1

This looks like a self-transfer, in which case this is nowhere near enough time, especially if you have checked luggage, but probably even if you don't.

If you have bags, then:

• The check-in/bag drop deadline is 40 minutes before departure, which gives you 40 minutes to:
  • Deplane
  • Get to passport control
  • Queue and go through
  • Wait for your bags
  • Go to departures and find the check-in counter
  • Queue and check in/drop your bags
• After that you have 10 minutes (maybe 20) to:
  • Go through security
  • Get to your gate

And that's if your incoming flight is on time!

While if all the stars and the Moon and the Sun are aligned somebody once in a blue moon may be able to make it, I certainly wouldn't count on it at all, and I certainly would not book it in these circumstances.

If you don't have checked bags and your carry-ons don't get checked at the gate and you can check-in online and there's no reason you need to go to a check-in desk (document check etc.) and your incoming flight is on time, then it's probably possible but you have very, very little buffer. If there's any delay at all you'll miss your connection.

Remember that if you miss your flight your ticket will most likely be cancelled and you'll most probably have to buy a new one, at last minute prices, which may be much higher.

I strongly advise against this.

The general rule of thumb is that for a self-transfer you should have at least 4 hours connection time. This can vary up or down depending on the exact circumstances, but 1h20 for self-transfer borders on madness (it would be very different if they were actually connecting flights).

Also note that you need to be able to enter the Schengen Area (whether you actually do or not), so depending on your citizenship you may need a visa.

Answer 2

Is this enough time to get through the airport and make my second flight?

Highly unlikely, I certainly would recommend against that. Whizz Air clearly states that they don't sell connecting flights . From here

That means you have booked a so-called "Self connection" and you are fully responsible for making it. If you don't, your second flight is likely to be cancelled, you may be considered a "no show" and you may have to buy a new same day ticket on the spot, which can be quite expensive.

Please note that you WILL need a Schengen Visa.

Your chances of making it depends on a lot factors: likelihood of delay, checked bags, airport layout, type of passport, etc but personally I don't book self connections under 4 hours unless there are mitigating factors.