Okay.. before anyone thinks I’m stupid, I have literally never flown as an adult.. I’ve never had to deal with plane tickets or anything until

I started buying my

Mother tickets to

Come visit us.. so on her way to me.. she has a 45 minute lay over.

On her way home she has a connecting flight wait time of 9 hours.. I know that’s a long time.. she told me to buy the ticket because “to be there for my birthday, I can sit at a airport for 9 hours I don’t care” that’s what she said.. my question is... WHAT is the difference in a layover and a connecting flight..

Like what does the connecting flight thing even mean?

Is it not

Just a 9 hour lay over?