Location/country for layover?

I personally check to see if the layover city has more frequent flights to your final destination - so if you miss the first one, you have a possible later options, or at least another one the next day. For me that means picking a layover in a European city and is why I fly through Amsterdam frequently. The next factor I consider is how long of a layover at the connecting city - for me, at least 2 hours depending on the airport, these days though 3 is better cushion (and might not be enough for certain airports - people here will have advice if you post specific questions). I also avoid transferring in Canada on the way home as you have to get your bags, go through their border process, then recheck your bags before boarding your USA flight.

On the way to Europe, I generally prefer to have the connection in Europe.

If your miss your connection in the U.S., it often means the next available flight is the following day and you have to spend the night. If you miss a connection in Europe, there are often later flights to your destination on the same day.

I vote with both CL and Laura on a Europe transfer on the way over with a look at how many flights continue on.

Any of your airlines of choice have flights to Amsterdam? It would be pretty easy to end there and take a train to Brussels/Bruges. I guess it also depends on which hubs your local airport flies to.

Coming home from Edinburgh pre-covid, I changed in NYC which I will go to extreme lengths to never do again, hahaha!

When going over, definitely have the connection in Europe. If the connection goes to heck in a bucket, you will at least be in Europe and much closer to your desitnation. Then you have the option of taking a train or perhaps a regional carrier. When coming home, definitely have the connection in the U.S. for the same reason. Many more options for additional flights, and if not too far, you could even rent a car.

Hey Hannah! Well on to the next phase of your travel planning. It's interesting so far everyone has said 'transit in Europe'? My reasoning is that once I'm in Europe, I can get where I might be traveling via train, and heck, you're in Europe!! Personally, I never transit in the US or Canada. Returning you will be exhausted & you have to go through immigration wherever you land in the USA, retrieve your bags (nominal customs inspection but it is there) and then recheck them onto a belt to final destination. UGH. And departing from many US airports to Europe require you to exit the terminal and go through security a second time after you already did that when you boarded your original flight.

Next question - Have you considered getting a credit card with whichever airline you're flying? You get added perks, at least one free checked bag, points for signing up & extra points for more $$ spent. Since you're a newbie flying to Europe, just put your entire trip onto one alliance, you choose. Then as others have said, they're responsible for getting you to your final destination. I'm not promoting UA, (I'm grandmother'ed in as have been flying them for 30 years back and forth to Asia) but here's their list of bennies. https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/chase-cards/united-credit-card-benefits. I put ALL my expenditures onto my UA card, it really adds up for free trips.

Where in the midwest are you & what are the main airports? That will help us. You might choose Delta / KLM. You can usually apply for the card literally as you make your reservation, it gets you even more miles. Have a look at the Points Guy, he can explain what are the best deals. Then there's travel insurance, personally I wouldn't hit the 'yes cover my trip button' when you book, come back to us on that & let's see what credit card / medical coverage you have before considering trip insurance.

I agree with Pam about opting for a layover at Schiphol (AMS). It's one of the easiest places in the world to flight into and out of, and there are usually plenty of flights available if anything happens. And as Pam noted, it's very near Belgium so if something happened with your flight, you could easily get to Bruges.

ETA: I just looked and it doesn't look like you have an AMS layover option. In that case, I would go with Germany, as again, it is closer to your final destination than anyplace in the US or Canada.

Hi friends, thanks so much for all the input as always! We depart from STL and Lufthansa is unfortunately the only direct flight option from Lambert to Europe (Frankfurt). We always aim to be carry-on only and with Lufthansa's weight restrictions, I'm hesitant!

I'm also not loving Lufthansa's itinerary options ... we would arrive in the morning in Frankfurt but then need to have a layover long enough for passport control, then fly then to Brussels and then still train to Bruges. Eats up a lot of time (and energy, already being jet lagged).

Air Canada could connect us to Brussels with a layover in either Toronto or Montreal. Thoughts on this option?

American and United are also options but aren't quite yet booking for our departure date. With these, any US layover city recommendations among O'Hare, Dulles, Newark, etc?

I'm assuming to look for a layover of 3 hours, but certainly appreciate input.

(Haven't begun looking at open-jaw return flights yet!)

Hannah, we liked connecting in Toronto on Air Canada to Europe (AMS). Because Toronto is further north, it's a bit shorter flight to Europe from there. But note, our AC flights from Kansas City are on Embraer regional jets with very small carryon space. So you might need to know that.

The connecting city a more important factor to us than price. Dulles is OK although some people seem to hate it. Our preference is Delta via Minneapolis. But seriously, I'd take the Lufthansa direct flight over any connecting flight situation, even considering a train to Brussels from there instead of waiting and flying from there. We'd take a direct flight to anywhere in Europe from KC if we had one.

-->Slight segue from the airline topic but you mentioned jet lag:

OK, here is where I sound like a shill but I'll swear I'm not. Take a look at the Timeshifter app for helping to adjust your circadian rhythm at your destination. Your first round trip is free and you'll get notifications from the app about 30 minutes before you are supposed to do something (get daylight/avoid daylight, drink caffeine/avoid caffeine).

Back story: I went to Amsterdam, Paris and London last spring. I had THE worst jet lag I've ever had (and I've been going twice a year since Covid and once or twice a year before then) and it took me nearly a week to right myself. I crumped every afternoon about 3 and needed a nap then and I am SO NOT an afternoon napper! Coming home it took another week to adjust to Idaho time, lol. I was going to travel in August but just be gone 2+ weeks and had an exciting tour to go on so I did NOT want to go thru that again. I want to be ready to hit the ground running when I have a tour organized! Sandancisco, a forum member, started a thread in the summer about jet lag and I remembered the Timeshifter app. I used it in August and had NO jet lag either way. I couldn't follow the recommendations 100% as daylight times didn't quite cooperate but I will never travel without this again. I'll happily pay next time! And sunglasses and a ball cap to somewhat screen my eyes from sunlight are now on my packing list.

-->Back to the airline discussion!

(PS I can understand wanting to fly directly to Europe from your airport. I fly from Spokane so have to go either to Seattle, Salt Lake City or Minneapolis to get my flight to Europe. I haven't flown thru any of your US airport hubs....so no direct experience.)

Stan I totally get it and am laughing at myself that I'm not as thrilled as I should be with a direct flight option ... But I just keep thinking about all the TIME that continues to get eaten up with travel on Day 1, versus just doing the layover on Day 0 and this getting hours back in our day upon arrival. That said! I super appreciate your Delta/Minneapolis suggestion; a friend of mine was just saying the exact same thing today!

PAM! Your hearty endorsement is much appreciated!!! I'd actually had someone mention that app in a different online space I'm part of, and so I'd had it bookmarked, but your review is convincing!!! Thank you! (Also, so I was in a large Zoom training recently where a woman was sitting in her house with sunglasses on ... And now I have to wonder, is she the weirdo I originally thought or was she an upcoming traveler?!)

But I just keep thinking about all the TIME that continues to get eaten up with travel on Day 1, versus just doing the layover on Day 0 and this getting hours back in our day upon arrival.

I actually prefer to arrive later in the day as you are more likely to be able to check into your hotel where you can wash up and change clothes. When I take an overnight flight, I consider day 1 to be a loss for sightseeing. While I may see things, I feel like a zombie due to my inability to sleep on a plane so I try not to visit anything that requires any concentration skills. YMMV.

I'm back ... so, do we consider flying direct from STL to Frankfurt and then taking the train to Brussels and then on to Bruges ... ? (Would have to figure out that Lufthansa carry on challenge!)

Versus a flight with a domestic layover that puts us right in Brussels in the morning?

My brain is starting to hurt. (I'm googling lots, to be clear, not just asking here!)

There's a lot less to worry about when checking a bag on a direct flight.

I'm back ... so, do we consider flying direct from STL to Frankfurt and then taking the train to Brussels and then on to Bruges ... ? (Would have to figure out that Lufthansa carry on challenge!)
Versus a flight with a domestic layover that puts us right in Brussels in the morning?

If I were starting in Bruges, then I would prefer a connecting flight to Brussels (easy train connection to Brussels that you can purchase on arrival) rather than flying to Frankfurt and taking a train (would need to purchase ticket in advance to get a good price).

I would start by going to googleflights, selecting the multi-city option and plug in your full route (STL to BRU / EDI to STL. This will probably narrow down the carriers and routes. One carrier may have a great route outbound and a terrible options inbound. I try to choose the best combo of price and route.

I just plugged in a random date and see a flight from STL via FRA to BRU with a 2:15 layover. That would be my choice there.

Hey Hannah! Despite my reservations about domestic connections, (I didn't know you were flying out of a smaller airport), agree with @Laura above, fly to Brussels. Getting there from Frankfurt after a transatlantic flight will be just exhausting. I've use Google Flights to check all the options, then book DIRECTLY with the airline. If something comes up, you don't want to deal with a third party provider. Good luck!! (PS, Just noticed the suggestion above, "I just plugged in a random date and see a flight from STL via FRA to BRU with a 2:15 layover." That would be a great route.)

And now I have to wonder, is she the weirdo I originally thought or was she an upcoming traveler?!

Hannah, There are some of us with very blue eyes who can't expose our eyes to very bright sun, inside or out. I often have to have my sunglasses on in rooms with large windows facing the sun or I'm blinded the rest of the day. It never dawned on me that people were thinking I was a weirdo for that reason...another reason now added to my list of weirdness. LOL

I also think you might be looking at travel time in the wrong mindset. I have adjusted my flights or type of travel to not be pre-vacation or wasting vacation, but as part of my vacation so I set it up with as much enjoyment as I can. Hence the day flight to Europe, which, granted, not everyone can do from their location, and then a luxurious bed. In other words, don't torture your self to get there.

Pam: That being said, as some day I might need to fly overnight (not), I need to discuss with you if the whole sun in the eyes is necessary for the no jet lag system. Madrid hit me like your bad time change experience...should have taken my usual day flight. sigh

"Also, so I was in a large Zoom training recently where a woman was sitting in her house with sunglasses on ... And now I have to wonder, is she the weirdo I originally thought or was she an upcoming traveler?!)"

Oh gosh, that made me really laugh! I do see Wray's point too...as my blue-eyed brother has to do that as well.

And Wray, I'm ready to talk about Timeshifter and daylight any time! Sorry you had a difficult time in Madrid!