Is a 45 min layover in Warsaw long enough?
WAW · Okecie · Warsaw, Poland
It Depends
Meets MCT for most zone-crossing itineraries but leaves little margin during LOT peak banks.
Quick Stats
3
15m
12m
LOT Polish Airlines
Minimum Connection Times
30min
✓45min
tight45min
tight40min
tightAD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
Tips for 45 min Connections
If connecting between Schengen and non-Schengen flights, budget extra time for the internal passport control checkpoint even though it's a short walk.
LOT's hub banks cluster in early morning and early evening, so those windows see the longest queues at internal checkpoints.
Signage is clear and gate changes are rare, but the terminal can feel cramped during peak LOT connecting waves.
Precheck-equivalent fast lanes are limited, so allow buffer time if your itinerary is tightly booked at minimum connect time.
Duty-free and food options are concentrated in the non-Schengen pier, so plan accordingly if you have a long layover there.
Busyness — Connection Risk
12a6a12p6p12a
Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Tight connections are safer outside peak hours. Morning rush (6–9a), midday (11a–2p), and evening (4–8p) are highest risk.
Getting Between Concourses
All piers connect via a single continuous terminal corridor, so there are no trains or shuttle buses required at WAW. Passengers moving between Schengen and non-Schengen piers pass through internal passport/security checkpoints, which is where most of the connection time is actually spent rather than in walking distance.
Is 45 minutes enough for a layover at WAW?
Meets MCT for most zone-crossing itineraries but leaves little margin during LOT peak banks.
Other Layover Durations at WAW
AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER