"Oh dear! Dear me! I'll be late!"
… repeated Lewis Carroll's White Rabbit anxiously as he took his watch out of his waistcoat.
For those who work in organized tourism, the race against time is a daily reflex, but in the night between the October 24th and 25th the exact opposite happens: the hands move back a step, from 3:00 to 2:00. An hour gained on paper, however, is not always an advantage: for the trade, it risks translating into missed transfers, missed connections, or operational misalignments if the complex transportation machine is not precisely recalibrated.
Flights and schedules: the double change at the end of October
The night of the transition to solar time coincides with the start of the 2026 winter aeronautical planningThe changes therefore do not only affect the dial, but also involve frequent adjustments to frequencies, operating days and carrier timetables.
The timetables on the tickets they always remain expressed in local timeTravelers should not make independent calculations, but rely solely on the airline's updated schedule. For the agency, the critical review focuses on separate ticket combinations and ground connections: even a minimal change on the first leg can jeopardize the entire itinerary.
Corto e lungo raggio: attenzione ai disallineamenti
Europe and short range: The time difference between Italy and EU countries does not vary, Since the transition occurs simultaneously, however, during city breaks, even a half-hour early or late arrival can result in missing a rental car pick-up or a scheduled visit.
United States and long haul: The US will return to standard time only on November 1, 2026., one week after Europe. For seven days, the time difference between Rome and New York will be reduced from 6 to 5 hours. Applying the usual "minus six" rule during that window will certainly lead to errors in customer service and contact with foreign correspondents. For other intercontinental routes, the time zone must be checked date by date.
Night trains: managing the repeated time
On the railway network, the critical issue concerns night journeys: between 2:00 and 3:00 The timetable repeats. Depending on the operator (such as Trenitalia or Deutsche Bahn), trains may make technical stops to realign with the timetable or follow dedicated operating procedures. In train + plane packages, the “gained” hour It should never be treated as a margin on which to compress check-in times.
Pre-departure operational checklist
Aligning suppliers on the ground: Please provide carrier code, date, and updated local time for transfers and excursions.
Recalculate the separate routes: Please carefully check the actual connection margins between flights or between trains and planes.
Always specify “local time”: esplicitarlo in voucher, programmi di viaggio e comunicazioni ai clienti.
Reschedule outdoor activities: With daylight saving time, sunsets come earlier; scenic guided tours and nature excursions should be rescheduled based on the actual light available at your destination.
For agencies and tour operators, Checking every connection before departure means protecting the customer experience. Skytool riporta già all the correct times, Taking into account time zones and time changes: a practical reference for planning your trip without hesitation. Thus, even a fluctuating hour on the dial ceases to be a threat and becomes simply time gained.
This way, the time change ceases to be a risk factor and becomes a detail that can already be resolved before departure.
By Guido Deiana and Daniele Di Stefano
