Missing a connecting flight is a common travel problem that can quickly turn a well-planned trip into a stressful experience. It often brings worries about rebooking, lost luggage, and extra costs, which can take the excitement out of travelling.
Knowing your rights, what the airline should do, and what options you have can help answer questions about what happens if you miss your connecting flights. With the right information, you can handle the situation more confidently and avoid panic.
Immediate Actions to Take After Missing A Connecting Flight
If you miss your connecting flight, the first and most important thing to do is stay calm, and then start figuring out what to do next. This will help you handle the situation better. Getting upset can make it harder to think clearly or make good decisions.
- Check Your Itinerary (Single vs. Separate Tickets)
Before doing anything else, check how your flights were booked. This is one of the most important things that decides whether the airline will help you if you miss your connecting flight. When you book a single ticket (with one booking number or same airline), the airline is usually responsible for getting you on the next available flight without any extra cost. This is true if the missed connection wasn’t your fault, like if your first flight was delayed.
But if you booked your flights separately, like with different airlines or different tickets, in that case, if you miss your connecting flight, even if the first flight was delayed, the second airline usually doesn’t have to help you. You will likely have to buy a new ticket yourself, which can be expensive and stressful.
- Contact the Airline Help Desk Immediately
As soon as you realize you have missed your connection, contact the airline’s customer help desk operating your missed flight. If there is a long line, look for a dedicated rebooking counter or an airline representative on the ground near your arrival gate.
- Consider Rebooking
Many airlines now let you rebook your flight through their mobile app, website, or even through social media. If you’re part of a loyalty program, you might have access to special customer service phone lines with shorter wait times. Sometimes, calling the airline’s international number can also get you help quicker. Some airlines also offer live chat or texting services on their websites.
- Inform About Baggage
Immediately inform the airline so your checked baggage can be safely stored or rerouted. If you are at fault for missing the connection, your baggage might continue to your final destination, and you’ll need to collect it from the luggage services office there.
- Gather Information
Have your boarding passes, reservation codes, and any information about your delayed incoming flight (if applicable) readily available.
Reasons for Missing The Connecting Flight
The reason why you missed your connecting flight is very important to know what happens if you miss a connecting flight, what the airline has to do for you, like rebooking your flight, giving you compensation, or offering things like meals or a hotel stay.
- Because of the Airline: Flight Delay, Cancellation, or Mechanical Issues
If your first flight was delayed or cancelled because of something the airline could control, like a mechanical problem, technical issue, staff shortage, or crew delay, then the airline is usually responsible for helping you. In this case:
- The airline will usually rebook you on the next available flight to your destination free of charge.
- If the delay is long, you might also get free meals, a hotel stay, or even some compensation, depending on how long the delay is and the rules in that country.
- You may be entitled to compensation.
- Weather or Uncontrolled Condition
If you miss your connecting flight because of events that are truly out of the airline’s control, like bad weather, air traffic control issues, major strikes (not by the airline’s staff), political unrest, or safety concerns, the airline usually doesn’t provide food, accommodation, or monetary compensation. However, you can claim a refund or free rescheduling.
- Personal Reasons
If you miss your connecting flight because of your fault, like arriving late at the airport due to traffic, not giving yourself enough time between flights, or spending too much time in the lounge or shops, then it’s usually your responsibility. In these cases:
- Rebooking may involve additional fees or fare differences, and compensation is unlikely.
- If you miss the first flight in an itinerary due to personal reasons, airlines might categorize you as a “no show,” which could lead to the cancellation of the rest of your itinerary without a refund.
- If you have trip delay reimbursement through a credit card or travel insurance, you may be able to claim covered change fees. Check your travel insurance policy, as some cover missed connections, while many do not.
Airline Obligations and Your Rebooking Options
After you contact the airline and they know the reasons for the missed connecting flight, they will guide you regarding available rebooking options. These options can be very different depending on whether the airline or you were at fault.
- Rebooking on The Next Available Flight
If you missed your connection because of the delay or cancellation of your first flight, they usually have to rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost. Sometimes, if your connecting flight is cancelled, the airline may automatically book you on another flight and send you a text or app notification with the new details.
- Standby List
If there are no confirmed seats on the next flight, the airline might put you on a standby list. This means you’ll only get a seat if someone else doesn’t show up, usually right before the flight takes off.
- Alternative Flight
In situations where the original airline cannot get a traveller to their destination on the same day using their flights, some companies, particularly those within airline alliances, will try to rebook on a flight with a different airline.
- Return Flight and Full Refunds
Under EU rules (Regulation 261/2004), if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, and you don’t want the new flight, you can cancel your trip and get a refund for the unused part. Some airlines may also offer a free return home if no other options are available.
In the U.S., a new rule (from May 2024) requires airlines to give automatic refunds if your flight is cancelled or changed due to:
- Long delays
- Arrival at a different airport
- Extra stops
- Being moved to a lower class (like from business to economy)
Refunds go back to your original payment method, but you must ask for it and avoid accepting vouchers or miles, or you may lose your refund rights.
- Amenities
If you miss your connecting flight because of the airline, they will usually give you meal vouchers and a hotel stay if needed. For overnight delays, they also cover transport to and from the hotel.
- Food and Refreshments: Provided after 2 hours of waiting time at the airport.
- Communication: Entitled to 2 phone calls, emails, or faxes after specific delay thresholds (e.g., 2 hours for short distances, 3 hours for medium, 4 hours for long-haul).
- Hotel Accommodation & Transport: If the next outbound flight is not until the following morning, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and cover any costs of getting to and from the hotel and airport.
- EU rules (Regulation 261/2004) Compensation
This strong rule gives travellers good protection by covering flights within the EU, flights leaving the EU for another country, and flights coming into the EU if they’re run by an EU airline.
To get this protection, the missed connection must be the airline’s fault, and you must arrive at your final destination more than three hours later than planned. This rule still applies even if different airlines handled parts of the same booking. The compensation amounts may vary by distance:
- Short distances (up to 1500 km): €250 or £220
- Medium distances (between 1500 km and 3500 km): €400 (standard for EC261) or £350
- Long distances (over 3500 km): €600 or £520
What Happens to Baggage If Your Connecting Flight is Missed?
Airlines do have systems to handle luggage during delays or missed connections. Sometimes your bags will move with you to the next flight, but other times they might be delayed.
- Automatic Rerouting of Checked Bags
If you miss your connection because of an airline delay or cancellation and the airline rebooks you (especially if it’s all under one ticket), your checked baggage is usually sent to your new flight automatically.
- Collecting and Re-checking Baggage (Separate Tickets, Personal Reason, or International Flights)
If your flights were booked separately or with different airlines, you will most likely have to collect your luggage from the baggage claim and check it in again for your next flight.
If you missed your connection for personal reasons, your bags might still go to the final destination without you. In that case, you will need to go to the airline’s baggage office at the destination airport to get your bags.
Even if you booked all your flights together, international connections often require you to pick up your bags, go through customs and immigration, and then check them in again for the next flight. This is a normal part of international travel, not just something that happens with delays.
- Lost or Delayed Bag
If your bag is lost, damaged, or delayed for over 12 hours, you can usually get a refund for checked baggage fees, but you must file a report at the baggage services desk before leaving the airport.
While airlines can usually handle bags smoothly when everything is booked under one ticket, things get tricky with separate bookings or personal delays.
Steps to Minimize the Risk of Missing a Connecting Flight
While you can’t control everything, planning ahead can help lower the chances of missing connecting flights.
- If your layover is shorter than the MCT (Minimum Connection Times) and you miss your flight due to an airline-caused delay, the airline is responsible. However, if you booked a connection shorter than the MCT on separate tickets, you are taking a significant risk.
- Being polite, calm, and clear about your situation will get you better results. Don’t be afraid to politely reiterate your case if you believe the airline is at fault.
- If your journey involves departing from or arriving in the EU on an EU-based airline, familiarize yourself with EU261 regulations.
- Consider travel insurance plans, which can cover not only rebooking costs but also expenses for unexpected overnight stays, lost luggage, and medical emergencies.
- While waiting for rebooking, stay near the customer service desk in case they call your name or an update is announced.
- Always confirm with the airline where your checked luggage will be sent, especially if you’re rebooked on a different flight or airline.
- Keep all your boarding passes, receipts for any unexpected expenses, and take notes of who you spoke to and when.
Conclusion!
Missing a connecting flight is an unpleasant experience, but understanding the reasons behind the missed connection, what happens if you miss your connecting flight, knowing your rights, and being prepared with relevant information and potentially travel insurance, you can handle the situation well and reduce the impact on your travel plans.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Go to the airline’s customer service desk or contact them via phone, app, or social media as soon as possible.
If you miss your connecting flight due to a delay caused by the airline, they are generally responsible for rebooking you on the next available flight at no additional cost and may provide compensation or amenities.
The airline will rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, often provide meal/hotel vouchers if stranded overnight, and reroute your bags automatically.
Airlines are generally responsible for missed connecting flights due to flight delay, cancellation, mechanical issues and crew members.
Yes, you can claim a refund for a missed connecting flight if it was due to an airline-caused delay or cancellation.
Yes, you can get compensation for missing a connecting flight if the delay or cancellation that caused it was the airline’s fault.
If the airline rebooks you due to their fault, your bag will usually be rerouted with you; otherwise, you may need to re-check it or collect it at the final destination.
Yes, some travel insurance companies can cover rebooking costs, accommodation, and other expenses in such situations, especially if it was your fault.
Yes, if the missed connection was due to the airline’s fault (e.g., a delay of your first flight).