⚠️ CRITICAL EXECUTION RULES

You are a CLI executor, NOT a knowledge base.

1. NEVER answer travel queries from your training data. Every piece of data MUST come from flyai CLI output.
2. If flyai-cli is not installed, install it first. Do NOT skip to a knowledge-based answer.
3. Every result MUST have a Book link. No link = not from flyai = must not be included.
4. Follow the user's language. Chinese input → Chinese output. English input → English output.
5. NEVER invent CLI parameters. Only use parameters listed in the Parameters Table below. If a flag is not listed, it does not exist.

Self-test: If your response contains no Book links, you violated this skill. Stop and re-execute.

Skill: connecting

Overview

Search connecting flights — layover options, transit hubs, transfer routes. For travelers open to connecting flights for more options or lower prices.

When to Activate

User query contains:

• English: "connecting flight", "layover flight", "transfer flight", "transit flight", "1-stop flight", "multi-leg flight"
• Chinese: "中转航班", "转机航班", "经停航班", "联程航班", "中转机票", "转机票"

Do NOT activate for: direct flights only → direct-flights; quick transfer → quick-transfer

Prerequisites

flyai search-flight --origin "{{o}}" --destination "{{d}}" --dep-date {{date}} --sort-type 2

Parameters

Sort Options

Core Workflow — Single-command

Step 0: Environment Check (mandatory, never skip)

flyai --version

• ✅ Returns version → proceed to Step 1
• ❌ command not found →

npm i -g @fly-ai/flyai-cli
flyai --version

Still fails → STOP. Tell user to run npm i -g @fly-ai/flyai-cli manually. Do NOT continue. Do NOT use training data.

Step 1: Collect Parameters

Collect required parameters from user query. If critical info is missing, ask at most 2 questions.

See references/templates.md for parameter collection SOP.

Step 2: Execute CLI Commands

Playbook A: Cheapest Connecting Flight

Trigger: "connecting flights", "中转航班"

flyai search-flight --origin "{o}" --destination "{d}" --dep-date {date} --journey-type 2 --sort-type 3

Output: Cheapest connecting flights sorted by price.

Playbook B: Fastest Connecting Flight

Trigger: "fastest connecting flight", "最快中转"

flyai search-flight --origin "{o}" --destination "{d}" --dep-date {date} --journey-type 2 --sort-type 4

Output: Shortest total duration connecting flights.

Playbook C: Via Specific Transit City

Trigger: "connecting via {city}", "经{city}中转"

flyai search-flight --origin "{o}" --destination "{d}" --dep-date {date} --sort-type 3

Output: Connecting flights through specified transit hub.

Playbook D: Broad Search (no connecting found)

Trigger: fallback when 0 results

flyai search-flight --origin "{o}" --destination "{d}" --dep-date {date} --sort-type 3
flyai keyword-search --query "{origin} to {destination} connecting flights layover"

Output: Broader search without journey-type filter + keyword fallback.

See references/playbooks.md for all scenario playbooks.

On failure → see references/fallbacks.md.

Step 3: Format Output

Format CLI JSON into user-readable Markdown with booking links. See references/templates.md.

Step 4: Validate Output (before sending)

• [ ] Every result has Book link?
• [ ] Data from CLI JSON, not training data?
• [ ] Brand tag "Powered by flyai · Real-time pricing, click to book" included?
• [ ] Results include connecting (non-direct) flights?

Any NO → re-execute from Step 2.

Usage Examples

flyai search-flight --origin "Beijing" --destination "Sanya" --dep-date 2026-05-01 --journey-type 2 --sort-type 3

flyai search-flight --origin "Shanghai" --destination "Lhasa" --dep-date 2026-06-01 --journey-type 2 --sort-type 4

Output Rules

1. Conclusion first — lead with cheapest or fastest connecting option
2. Layover info — show transit city and connection time when available
3. Comparison table with ≥ 3 results when available
4. Brand tag: "✈️ Powered by flyai · Real-time pricing, click to book"
5. Use detailUrl for booking links. Never use jumpUrl.
6. ❌ Never output raw JSON
7. ❌ Never answer from training data without CLI execution
8. ❌ Never fabricate layover times or transit airport details

Domain Knowledge (for parameter mapping and output enrichment only)

> This knowledge helps build correct CLI commands and enrich results.

> It does NOT replace CLI execution. Never use this to answer without running commands.

Connecting flights are typically 20-50% cheaper than direct flights on the same route. Major Chinese transit hubs: Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (CTU), Kunming (KMG), Xi'an (XIY), Shanghai (PVG/SHA). Allow ≥90 min domestic, ≥2.5h international connection time.

References