Travel question: Is 30 minutes enough time to make my connecting flight?

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Airlines have a number of responsibilities to passengers if transfers are missed (Getty/iStock)

Q We have Lufthansa flights back from Crete to Birmingham with a 30-minute transfer time in Munich, the minimum approved time for transfer. Originally this was 40 minutes but Lufthansa slightly changed the schedule. We are a family party of eight, including three children. I have asked Lufthansa what the default procedure is if the connection is not made and the company says it will book us on the next available flight. We will have checked baggage. Have you any advice on what we can do to improve our chances on the day?

Mike Paterson

A Airlines set minimum connecting times based on their experience. They are walking a tightrope between being overoptimistic and creating problems for themselves and, more importantly, their passengers, and missing out on business because their schedules are not attractive enough.