Missing a connection feels like a disaster in the moment and is usually a solvable scheduling problem. The important distinction is whether your flights were on one ticket or two.
One ticket: the airline fixes it
If both legs are on the same booking, the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. In many cases they will already have rebooked you before you land, and the new boarding pass is waiting at the transfer desk or in the app.
Go to the transfer desk rather than out to arrivals. It is the correct place and it is normally much quieter than the main ticket counters.
Separate tickets: you are responsible
If you booked the legs separately, the second airline is entitled to treat you as a no show. Some carriers will offer a reduced change fee if you speak to them quickly and politely, but there is no obligation. Check whether your travel insurance includes missed departure cover, and gather evidence of why the first flight was late.
What to ask for
- 1The next available flight, including via other hubs.
- 2A partner airline option if the airline's own flights are full.
- 3Confirmation of what happens to your checked baggage.
- 4Hotel and meal provision if you must wait overnight.
- 5A lounge pass or refreshment voucher for a long wait.
- 6Written confirmation of the new itinerary before you leave the desk.
Your baggage
On one ticket, the bag usually travels on the flight it was loaded onto and waits for you at the destination baggage office. It can also be pulled and reloaded onto your new flight. Ask the agent which has happened and note the reference.
On separate tickets you will have collected the bag already, so simply check it in again with the new flight. Watch the weight, since some carriers have different allowances.
If you must stay overnight
Ask whether you need a transit visa to leave the airside area for a hotel. This catches people out regularly, and it is the airline's job to know the answer. If no visa is available, airports usually have a transit hotel or rest area inside the secure zone.
Reducing the risk next time
- Book connections on one ticket wherever possible.
- Choose longer connection times, particularly when changing terminals.
- Take the first flight of the day for the outbound leg.
- Connect through the airline's own hub, where they have most alternatives.
- Keep the airline's app installed with notifications enabled.
Common questions
- Do I have to pay for a new ticket?
- On one ticket, normally no. On separate tickets it depends entirely on the second airline's policy.
- What if the missed connection was my fault?
- If you were late to the gate, the airline is not obliged to rebook free of charge, though many offer a paid standby option.
- Should I go through immigration to find help?
- Not before checking. Once you have entered the country, returning airside means starting check-in and security again.
Still stuck on something?
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