# What happens if you miss your connecting flight?

> On a single ticket, the airline rebooks you on the next flight at no cost. On separate tickets, or if you skip the flight on purpose, you can lose it.

If both flights are on one ticket (one booking reference), the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If you miss the connection because the first flight was late, it rebooks you on the next available flight at no extra cost, and on longer delays may give you meal vouchers or a hotel. If you booked the flights separately, the second airline has no obligation to you — you'll usually lose that ticket and have to buy a new one. If you simply don't take your connection on purpose, the airline usually cancels the rest of your itinerary, including the return.

## What to do right away

1. **Check the airline app.** Many airlines automatically rebook passengers who miss a connection, and the new flight appears in the app or by text.
2. **Go to the transfer or service desk** at the connecting airport if nothing has been rebooked, or call the airline while you wait in line.
3. **Ask about alternatives** — a different route, a partner airline or a nearby airport — if the next flight is far away.
4. **Keep your records:** boarding passes, delay notices and receipts for meals, hotels and transport. You may be able to claim them later.
5. **Check your checked bags.** On a single ticket they usually follow you to the new flight.

## Your rights

- **EU and UK rules:** EU261 applies to flights departing from the EU, and to flights into the EU only on EU airlines; the UK version (UK261) works the same way for the UK. If the delay of your first flight makes you reach your final destination three hours or more late, you may be entitled to compensation of €250–€600 under EU261 or £220–£520 under UK261, depending on distance, unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather. Care (meals and, if needed, a hotel) is owed while you wait regardless of the cause. An EU reform of EU261 was adopted in July 2026 (Parliament on 7 July, Council on 13 July) and applies about 12 months after publication, so the current rules apply until then (around 2027).
- **In the US,** there is no federal law requiring cash compensation for delays, but airlines commit to rebooking you and, for controllable delays, often to meals or hotels. Major airlines publish these customer service commitments on the Department of Transportation's dashboard. If you decide not to travel after a significant delay, you are entitled to a refund.
- **Canada:** large airlines owe compensation for delays within their control under the passenger protection regulations.
- **Other countries** have their own rules; check them for your route.

## Separate tickets

If you booked two separate tickets, a delay on the first leg is your risk. Leave long layovers, consider travel insurance with missed-connection cover, or use a booking that includes a self-transfer guarantee.

## If you missed it through your own fault

If you got lost in the airport or stayed too long in a lounge, the airline may rebook you for a fee or require a new ticket. Talk to the airline immediately, and don't skip the next flight on your itinerary — missing a segment can cancel the rest of your ticket.

## FAQ

**Do I have to go through security again on a connection?**
Often yes on international connections, and always when you arrive in the US from abroad: you clear immigration and customs, recheck bags and go through security.

**How much time do I need for a connection?**
At least the airline's minimum connection time, which the booking system respects on a single ticket. For separate tickets, leave several hours.

**What happens if I skip my connecting flight on purpose?**
The airline marks you as a no-show and usually cancels all later segments, including your return flight, and checked bags still go to the final destination. Skipping a leg on purpose (hidden-city ticketing) breaks most airlines' conditions of carriage.

**Will my return flight be canceled if I miss a connection?**
Not if the airline caused the miss and rebooked you. If you no-show without telling the airline, it usually cancels the rest of the ticket, so call before the flight departs.

**Does travel insurance cover missed connections?**
Many policies do, covering extra costs such as meals, hotels or a new ticket when the delay is outside your control.

**Can I get a refund if I miss my connection?**
If the airline caused it on a single ticket, you're rebooked; you can choose a refund if you no longer want to travel.

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https://inyourtravel.com/what-happens-if-i-miss-my-connecting-flight/ · In Your Travel · Checked 2026-10-31