What to do if I miss my flight: a guide for passengers, what to do if you miss your flight and when you can get compensation

The success of a trip largely depends on quality planning, which includes many points: booking tickets in time, choosing a destination and a good place to stay, calculating time and budget, etc. But even the best preparation does not protect you from the possibility of missing your flight.

In fact, this unpleasant situation happens to many travelers on a daily basis. The reasons for this can be very different, and it is impossible to predict everything. What happens if you miss your flight? Will you receive compensation in this case?

The main thing that is required from a traveler, on whose way there is any obstacle, for example, a late flight, is not to give in to panic. If you miss your flight, you may still have options to resolve the issue and continue your trip. You may also be able to get some money back for the flight you missed. The latter depends on the situation and the policies of your chosen airline.

In this guide, we have detailed what to do in such a case and when you can get financial compensation for a missed flight.

What do I do if I missed my flight?

Even experienced travelers are not immune from such an unpleasant event. And even for them, it can be a frightening experience. What to speak of beginners, who can simply be knocked out of their rut by a late flight. It seems that there is no hope for the trip and you can forget about pleasant impressions from the trip. In fact, you still have a chance for success and an opportunity to improve the situation for the better.

The first thing you should do if you miss your flight for any reason is to inform your airline. If you fail to do so, the airline will give you a "no-show" status and cancel all your future travel plans: thus canceling your connecting flights, or your return flights if you booked them with that airline as well.

So as soon as you realize that you are likely to miss your flight, call the airline as soon as possible. That way, you will have a better chance that the airline will be able to help you continue your trip.

Budget airlines often have stricter rules regarding passengers being late for a flight. Additional fees for rebooking your ticket are often part of them. You may have to spend a little more money to get a new ticket with budget airlines.

If you have already arrived at the airport but are late for boarding, go to the check-in desk right away and inform the airline staff about the situation. They will explain what your situation is and what you can do next.

What happens if I miss my flight?

You should realize that since many other passengers need to get to their destination just as much as you do, no one will be waiting for a late passenger. Flights are on a strict schedule, so the delay of one can affect all subsequent departures. So if you are late for the flight, the plane will simply take off without you. Well, the latecomer has to take some measures to get to the right place.

A positive point in this situation will be that most airlines are sympathetic to passengers who are late for the flight for good reasons. It can be traffic jams, some unforeseen personal circumstances, health problems and so on. Therefore, their employees try to immediately establish cooperation with the passenger and help to rebook the next available flight for them. So don't panic if you miss your flight: you may be able to fly out without waiting too long, and the delay will not cause any serious disruptions to your plans.

But things are not always so optimistic. The further fate of a passenger who missed a flight depends on the specifics of the situation and the airline. Some carriers regulate their actions by rules that allow the passenger to board another flight on another day without paying anything extra. Other airlines can rebook a missed flight, but charge a fee for this service. Still others charge a full fee for both the missed flight and the new flight if the passenger still intends to continue traveling.

Are airlines obliged to compensate a passenger for a missed flight?

Make no mistake: airlines are not looking to take responsibility for a passenger's tardiness. But people working for these companies can make it much easier for you to do so. So it pays to be polite and contact them as soon as possible if you realize you're going to miss your flight.

What is the "flat tire rule"?

This term refers to the airlines' policy regarding late passengers. Essentially, the carrier takes a step towards the passenger, realizing that sometimes things happen that the passenger cannot foresee or control. The "flat tire" policy helps travelers book a seat on another flight. So if you miss your flight, check to see if perhaps your reason is valid enough for the airline and your tardiness will get a less painful resolution.

For example, American Airlines will place a late passenger on standby for the next available flight under one or more of these conditions:

• the passenger did not check in on time, but arrives within two hours of the time announced for departure;
• the passenger has a mobile boarding pass but for a different airport (e.g. the passenger arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York although he/she is supposed to depart from New York-LaGuardia);
• the passenger has forgotten/lost the documents required for travel;
• the passenger has not yet received an ESTA.

If you miss your flight with United Airlines, but manage to contact the airline or ticket office within 30 minutes of departure time, you will be booked on the next available United or United Express flight.

Can I rebook a flight on my own?

If the airline does not consider your reasons for being late for your flight to be valid and denies you compensation, you may want to consider options from other carriers.

For example, if there is no available flight in the near future or your airline's policy is strict for late passengers, offering no refunds and requiring you to purchase a new ticket at full price, try searching for flights on your own from other carriers.

Sometimes, booking a flight on a budget airline at a time that is convenient for you will cost the same amount of money that your original company requires you to pay for a standby flight. Sure, you may lose a certain level of comfort, but you won't have to spend extra, wait a long time at the airport and disrupt your future vacation plans.

What to do if you are late for a connecting flight?

Due to the delay in departure, passengers who have to make a connection on their onward journey run the risk of being late for a connecting flight. In this case, you need to contact the representative of the airline you will be flying with as soon as possible. The sooner you do this, the more options you will have for planning your onward journey. The airline representative will help you confirm your flight status and seat for the next flight, put you at the top of the waiting list, etc.

You can also try to change your flight online. If you missed your connection due to a canceled or delayed flight, try to find other options on the airline's website or mobile app.

Can I get compensation for a missed flight?

So, if you didn't check in for your flight, what happens to your money? Is there any way to reimburse the money spent on the ticket or receive compensation for being late for the flight? Unfortunately, the predominant number of such situations do not end in favor of the passenger. Of course, there is, for example, the European Regulation EC 261, which protects the rights of passengers in case of flight cancellation or delay, but its provisions do not provide protection for passengers who did not arrive on time for the flight for various reasons.

In fact, if you don't arrive at the gate on time, the airline is not obligated to refund your ticket. For the most part, air carriers only offer refunds or compensation for flights that they themselves have canceled.

There are some airlines in the commercial airline market that try to be more lenient with passengers. If the latecomer reports their problem to the airline right away, they may offer them a portion of the money or even the entire ticket amount back depending on the reason for the delay.

If you missed your flight for a legitimate reason, take a close look at the airline's policies: some of them offer financial compensation to passengers who are late for a flight, e.g. due to a family emergency, flat tire, etc.

Is there travel insurance in case of missing a flight?

Yes, some travel insurance policies cover a situation such as missing a flight. Their terms and conditions usually spell out the reasons for lateness, which are sufficient grounds for reimbursement. Of course, the success of this case will depend on the specific details, and usually the passenger will need to provide evidence that they missed the flight for the reason they specified.

What happens if you checked in but missed your flight?

Sometimes circumstances are such that even after arriving at the airport before the plane departs and checking in, a passenger may miss his flight. This situation becomes especially troublesome when his luggage is already on board, so it leaves without its owner. Therefore, with the question "What to do if I missed the flight?", it is necessary to immediately contact the airline representatives in the departure area or at the boarding gate. Not only will they help you rebook your flight, but they will also issue a ticket for your luggage so that it is not lost and returned to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss my flight due to traffic congestion?

This is one of the most common reasons for missing a flight. It can occur either because of a passenger's improper approach to planning the journey to the airport, or because of circumstances that he or she could not control. As in other situations, the first thing to do is to contact your airline and inform them of your late flight. If possible, you may be offered an alternate flight so that you can continue your journey at the earliest available time. Unfortunately, the rules of many airlines do not consider traffic jams to be a sufficient reason to offer a passenger any compensation or refund.

What should I do if I miss my flight because of a security check?

Airports and airlines put safety on board above all else. So if you missed your flight while you were standing in a long line waiting to be screened, there is unfortunately also little you can do to get compensation. Airlines do not take responsibility for this, so passengers are strongly advised to arrive at the airport a few hours before their flight. That way, if the security staff have any comments about your luggage or if someone in the queue ahead of you takes a long time to get through security, you will still be able to get through security on time.

What should I do if I miss my flight due to illness?

If you had to seek emergency medical treatment, you can contact the airline for compensation. Many air carriers consider this reason to be grounds for reimbursing a passenger for a missed flight.

Do airlines refund money for a missed flight?

Yes, such cases are not isolated, but they depend directly on the airline's policy and the very circumstances that forced the passenger to miss the flight.

What should I do to avoid missing a flight?

Guaranteeing a trouble-free trip is extremely difficult. But still there are steps that will help to reduce the risks. First, pack your bags in advance. Do not put off packing for later: if you start to think at the last moment that you should take exactly, what to leave, and how to pack it all, you can forget your documents at home in a hurry or simply miss the flight. The second obligatory rule for passengers is to go to the airport well in advance, so that you have at least two hours before departure to check in, go through security checks, etc.