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> the inconvenience of non-direct flights

I am wondering if I am in the minority here but I always pick non-direct flights and not just because they are cheaper. I have a hard time spending 7-8 hours straight cramped up in a seat. I'd rather split that into two 4-4 flights.

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In practice I haven't found that I can do a 7-8 hour flight in two 4-4 flights. My most-frequently flown route direct is 5 hours even. The shortest-duration non-direct flight is 4:23 with a 67 minute stopover and then a 1:32 flight. And I effectively lose 20 minutes off the start/end of each flight where I can't use my tablet/laptop with headphones.

I think you probably are, you've turned the flight into 4-4 flights plus layover, which you need to overbudget in case of delays on flight #1, and you risk flight #2 getting cancelled while you're in the air, not to mention doubling the chance of lost luggage.

I wonder if this has to do with American Airports. I've been flying for over a decade and quite extensively for the last 4 years. I've only lost a baggage in the US (newark) and I've only taken a dozen flights or so on the continental US. Most US airports are also quite unfriendly for layovers.

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