US · Asia · Gulf · South Asia
Which airport should you connect through?
Connection hubs, transit visa rules and long-layover tips for the US, Asia and the Gulf.
Which hub? picker
Pairs work in either direction. Pick From and To; the route page covers both directions.
Connection hubs
All hubs →
Photo: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com · CC BY-SA 3.0 DEDoha
Qatar
Frequent flyer take
“Great business lounges and easy transfers”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa on arrival / visa-free entry
Being verified
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Frequent flyer take
“Like a big shopping mall where you can buy literally anything”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa stamped on arrival
Being verified
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR, China
Frequent flyer take
“In town in under 30 minutes by train”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa-free
Being verified
Photo: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com · CC BY-SA 4.0Istanbul
Türkiye
Frequent flyer take
“More chaotic than some of the other big hubs”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa-exempt
Being verified
Photo: A.C.T. Alejandre · CC BY-SA 4.0Manila
Philippines
Frequent flyer take
“Not an airport to spend extra time at”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed
Being verified
Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0Singapore
Singapore
Frequent flyer take
“Laid out very nicely, but expect a good bit of walking”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed
Being verified
Photo: Ralff Nestor Nacor · CC BY-SA 4.0Taipei
Taiwan
Frequent flyer take
“Transfers are often easy and seamless inside the same terminal”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa-exempt
Being verified
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0Tokyo
Japan
Frequent flyer take
“Cleanest restrooms anywhere”
US passport, leave the airport: Yes, visa-exempt
Being verifiedPopular routes
All routes →US to Asia
MNLDFW
Manila to Dallas/Fort Worth
Manila to Dallas/Fort Worth: connect in Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, a US gateway or the Gulf?
US to Asia
MNLLAX
Manila to Los Angeles
Manila to Los Angeles: fly nonstop, or connect in Tokyo, Taipei or Hong Kong?
US to Asia
MNLSFO
Manila to San Francisco
Manila to San Francisco: nonstop on PAL or United, or connect in Asia?
US to Asia
DFWTYO
Dallas/Fort Worth to Tokyo
Dallas/Fort Worth to Tokyo: two nonstop airlines to Haneda
US to Asia
DFWHKG
Dallas/Fort Worth to Hong Kong
Dallas/Fort Worth to Hong Kong: Cathay's daily nonstop
Asia to the Gulf
MNLDXB
Manila to Dubai
Manila to Dubai: nonstop is the norm
Asia to the Gulf
MNLDOH
Manila to Doha
Manila to Doha: nonstop on Qatar Airways
To Pakistan
MNLISB
Manila to Islamabad
Manila to Islamabad: connect in Dubai, Doha or Bangkok?
To Pakistan
MNLLHE
Manila to Lahore
Manila to Lahore: connect in Dubai, Doha or Bangkok?
To Pakistan
BKKISB
Bangkok to Islamabad
Bangkok to Islamabad: Thai Airways direct, or connect in the Gulf?
Within Asia
MNLBKK
Manila to Bangkok
Manila to Bangkok: flying it nonstop, and which Bangkok airport
Within Asia
MNLSGN
Manila to Ho Chi Minh City
Manila to Ho Chi Minh City: flying it nonstop
Within Asia
MNLKUL
Manila to Kuala Lumpur
Manila to Kuala Lumpur: flying it nonstop, and which KLIA terminal
Within Asia
MNLHKG
Manila to Hong Kong
Manila to Hong Kong: flying it nonstop
Within Asia
MNLTPE
Manila to Taipei
Manila to Taipei: flying it nonstop, and which Taoyuan terminal
Within Asia
MNLCEB
Manila to Cebu
Manila to Cebu: flying it, and the NAIA terminal change
Within Asia
MNLDVO
Manila to Davao
Manila to Davao: flying it, and the NAIA terminal change
Within Asia
MNLPEN
Manila to Penang
Manila to Penang: no nonstop found, so connect in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Bangkok
Within Asia
MNLSIN
Manila to Singapore
Manila to Singapore: flying it nonstop
Within Asia
MNLTYO
Manila to Tokyo
Manila to Tokyo: flying it nonstop to Haneda or Narita
Within Asia
KULPEN
Kuala Lumpur to Penang
Kuala Lumpur to Penang: flying it, and which KLIA terminal
Within Asia
BKKCNX
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Bangkok to Chiang Mai: flying it, and Suvarnabhumi vs Don Mueang
Within Asia
KULSIN
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: flying it nonstop
US to Asia
DFWLAX
Dallas/Fort Worth to Los Angeles
Dallas/Fort Worth to Los Angeles: the domestic leg before a transpacific flight
US to Asia
DFWSFO
Dallas/Fort Worth to San Francisco
Dallas/Fort Worth to San Francisco: the domestic leg before a transpacific flight
US to Asia
LAXTPE
Los Angeles to Taipei
Los Angeles to Taipei: flying it nonstop on EVA Air, China Airlines or STARLUX
US to Asia
LAXTYO
Los Angeles to Tokyo
Los Angeles to Tokyo: flying it nonstop to Haneda or Narita
US to Asia
SFOTYO
San Francisco to Tokyo
San Francisco to Tokyo: flying it nonstop to Haneda or Narita
US to Asia
SFOTPE
San Francisco to Taipei
San Francisco to Taipei: flying it nonstop on four airlines
To Pakistan
BKKLHE
Bangkok to Lahore
Bangkok to Lahore: Thai Airways direct, or connect in Dubai?
To India
BKKDEL
Bangkok to Delhi
Bangkok to Delhi: flying it nonstop
To Pakistan
DXBISB
Dubai to Islamabad
Dubai to Islamabad: flying it nonstop, and connecting through DXB
To Pakistan
DXBLHE
Dubai to Lahore
Dubai to Lahore: flying it nonstop, and connecting through DXB
Rules change. Every page shows when we last checked it and links the official source.
Transit Watch
Rule changes, route deep-dives and layover ideas
Coming soon