You land late, the gate is closing, and your onward flight leaves without you. What happens next depends mostly on one thing you decided at booking: whether both flights were on one ticket. This guide covers what to do straight away, what your airline normally does, and when you are on your own.
First, check whether you have one ticket
Look at your confirmation. If both flights appear under one booking and one ticket, the airline or its partner is normally responsible for moving you towards your final destination when its delay causes the miss. Your bag is usually tagged all the way as well.
If you bought the flights separately, or a site sold you a "self-transfer", each flight is its own contract. The second airline generally does not have to help because your first flight was late. You may lose that ticket and need to buy another. This is the biggest risk in building a cheap connection yourself.
The first 30 minutes
- Open the airline's app before you join a line. Many airlines rebook you automatically during disruption. The new itinerary may already be waiting, and the app may offer other flights.
- Look up the next flights yourself. Note the flight numbers, including those on partner airlines. An agent can act faster when you suggest something specific.
- Queue and call at the same time. Join the transfer desk line while you phone or message the airline. Whichever answers first can solve it.
- Ask where your bag is going. On one ticket, it should follow your new booking, but confirm it. Keep medication and essentials in your carry-on for this reason.
- Keep every receipt. If you need a meal or a hotel, receipts support a claim to the airline or your travel insurer.
What to ask the agent
- Can you put me on the next available flight, on your airline or a partner?
- If there is nothing today, can you route me through a different hub?
- Can I fly to a nearby airport instead, and how would my bag get there?
- If I have to stay overnight, what does the airline provide?
- Does the rest of my trip, including my return, stay valid?
That last question is important. If you do not show up for one flight on a ticket, the airline may cancel the remaining flights. Never simply skip a segment and assume the rest is safe. Tell the airline what has happened.
Who pays for what
When the airline caused the delay
On one ticket, most airlines rebook you without charge on their next suitable flight. Help with meals or hotels depends on the airline, the cause and the region. In the US, this is largely set by each airline's own commitments and contract of carriage, so read them. If you would rather not travel on the new routing, you may be entitled to a refund. Our guide to delay and cancellation rights explains this for US, EU and UK flights.
When Europe's rules apply
EU and UK rules can give you care during the wait, and in some cases compensation, for a connection missed on a single booking. Whether you qualify depends on the route, the airline and the cause, and bad weather or other extraordinary events can remove the compensation part. Check the official EU or UK regulator pages for your situation.
When you caused it
If you missed the flight for your own reasons, for example at a shop or in the wrong terminal with time to spare, the airline does not have to help. Many agents will still look for options, sometimes for a charge. Ask politely and go early.
How to avoid it next time
- Book one ticket where you can. It is the most useful protection you can buy, and it costs nothing extra to look for.
- Leave room. The shortest connection a website sells is a legal minimum, not a comfortable one. Our layover guide shows what to allow at major hubs.
- Avoid the last flight of the day. An earlier connection leaves you a backup if something goes wrong.
- Watch out for border checks. Immigration can take longer on a first entry to Europe. See our guide to the EU Entry/Exit System.
- Consider a nonstop. If the difference is small, a nonstop flight removes this problem altogether. Routes such as New York to London and Los Angeles to Tokyo often have several nonstop options.
- Check your travel insurance. Many policies cover missed connections on separate tickets only under specific conditions. Read the wording before you rely on it.
