Different Airports, Same City: How to Transfer Between Them

Several major European cities are served by more than one airport — and chasing a cheap fare often means one airline lands you at one, while your onward flight departs from the city's other airport. If the two tickets are booked separately, on different airlines (a so-called self-transfer), getting between them is entirely on you. Here's where this comes up most often, and how to plan the transfer so you don't run out of time.

🏙️ Where this comes up most often

• London — Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), City (LCY): five airports, 1-1.5 hours apart from each other
• Paris — Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), Beauvais (BVA): CDG and ORY are 45 minutes apart, BVA is 1.5 hours from downtown
• Milan — Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), Bergamo/Orio al Serio (BGY): all three are on different sides of the city, 1-1.5 hours apart
• Rome — Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA): relatively close, 45 minutes to an hour apart
• Stockholm — Arlanda (ARN), Bromma (BMA), Skavsta (NYO): Skavsta is over 1.5 hours from downtown

⏱️ How much time and money to budget

When planning a transfer, count more than just travel time — factor in collecting your bags, checking in at the new terminal, and going through security again. Leave at least 4-5 hours between two different airports on a self-transfer — the 1-2 hours in the minimum connection time guide only applies within a single airport, not between two.

For example, LGW to LHR by train and bus takes about 1.5-2 hours and $15-25; BGY to MXP by bus takes about 1-1.5 hours and $10-15.

🧳 Baggage — the main trap

Unless both flights are on a single booking, your bag won't automatically transfer to the second flight — you'll need to collect it on arrival and check it in again yourself. See connecting flight baggage rules and self-transfer flight risks for details.

• Collect your bag as soon as you land — don't assume it carries over automatically
• Check each airline's carry-on and checked baggage rules separately
• Leave extra time for customs and passport control if you're crossing into a different country

💡 Practical tips

• Use a self-transfer protection service (like Kiwi.com Guarantee) — it compensates you if a delay causes a missed connection
• Double-check the exact location of both airports when booking — the same city name can refer to two very different locations
• Book the earliest flight for the first leg — losing a few minutes matters far less in the morning than later in the day
• Get an eSIM in advance so navigating between the two airports isn't a hassle

Flying into one airport and out of another can save you money, but it takes extra planning. The full guides to London, Paris and Milan will help you plan your route, and the guide to moving between airport terminals walks through the specific steps. Search and compare flights on Travel365's price calendar.