Layover
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In scheduled transportation, a layover (also waypoint, way station, or connection) is a point where a vehicle stops, with passengers possibly changing vehicles. In public transit, this typically takes a few minutes at a trip terminal. For air travel, where layovers are longer, passengers will exit the vehicle and wait in the terminal, often to board another vehicle traveling elsewhere.[1][2][3]
A stopover is a longer form of layover, allowing time to leave the transport system for sightseeing or overnight accommodation.
History
[edit]Historically, a way station was a facility for resting or changing a team of horses drawing a stagecoach. Typically a simple meal was available to passengers, who were also able to use restrooms. Basic overnight accommodations were sometimes available in remote instances.
Mass transit
[edit]A layover for mass transit is a scheduled downtime for the vehicle and driver between terminal-to-terminal trips.[4] This short period of recovery time built into the schedule is generally used for one or more of the following reasons: recover from delays, provide breaks for the driver, and/or allow time for a driver change. While in practice the terms "recovery time" and "layover" define the same block of time in the schedule, technically the recovery time is intended to compensate for the vehicle running behind the schedule (delays may be caused by earlier traffic congestion or excess boarding times), while the layover time is intended for the driver to take a break and is regulated by either the mass transit agency, or the trade union rules.[4]
In addition to being used at the end of vehicle trip, layovers can be scheduled at timing points during the trip, in which case they are often referred to as loading/unloading time. In this case, they serve as extra time provided for the loading and unloading of passengers, which is most often scheduled at busy stops.[5][6] They also allow time to pass if a service is running early, to prevent arriving at a timing point ahead of schedule.
Long-distance rail and bus
[edit]A layover in long-distance travel by train or intercity bus is a break that a passenger must take between vehicles in a multi-vehicle trip or while changing the mode of transportation. It is the time spent at a terminal or hub after leaving one vehicle and waiting to board the next. Many inter-city and international trips include layovers.[7]
As in mass transit, a layover in long-distance travel may provide for a break taken by the operator. A vehicle is said to be laying over after it finishes its route and is waiting prior to a return trip, or is taking a break to change crews or for the crew to rest.[7]
Air
[edit]In air travel, a stop or transfer (from one airplane to another) is considered to be a layover or connection up to a certain maximum allowed connecting time, while a so-called stopover is a substantially longer break in the flight itinerary. The maximum time depends on many variables, but for most U.S. and Canadian itineraries, it is 4 hours, and for most international itineraries (including any domestic stops), it is 24 hours. In general, layovers are cheaper than stopovers, because notionally layovers are incidental to traveling between two other points, whereas stopovers are among the traveler's destinations.[8][9][10]
Some airports are designed with amenities for travelers with long layovers such as gyms, yoga studios, movie theaters, and fine dining restaurants.[1]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kennedy, Kelli (February 12, 2017). "Long layover? How about a workout at an airport gym?". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
After sitting on a long flight, it might feel nice to stretch your legs and eat something healthy. Some airports are beginning to prioritize those options.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Compton, Natalie B. (August 8, 2022). "How to leave the airport and explore a city during a layover". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
Whether you have five or 15 hours, you can plan a micro-vacation away from your gate
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chung, Christine (August 8, 2023). "Whether You Call It 'Skiplagging' or 'Hidden-City Travel,' It's Contentious". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
Booking a flight with a layover in the city that's the real destination for the traveler can net big bargains, but airlines prohibit the practice.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Boyle 2009, p. 4-4.
- ^ "Transit Glossary: Layover". Sacramento Regional Transit. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ MacKechnie, Christopher. "A Common Scheduling Problem". About.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Sutherland 2009, p. 110.
- ^ Kralev, Nicholas (2011). Decoding Air Travel: A Guide to Saving on Airfare and Flying in Luxury. Nicholas Kralev. p. 23. ISBN 978-1461015437.
- ^ "Passenger Glossary of Terms". International Air Transport Association. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016.
- ^ "Glossary: connection, stopover". Airline Tariff Publishing Company. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
Sources
[edit]- Sutherland, J. (2009). "Layover". Key Concepts in Leisure. Key Concepts. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-350-31483-2. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- Boyle, Daniel K. (2009). "Layover and Recovery Time". Controlling System Costs: Basic and Advanced Scheduling Manuals and Contemporary Issues in Transit Scheduling. Report (Transit Cooperative Research Program). Transportation Research Board. ISBN 978-0-309-11783-8. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
