AirLink Missed Flight Guide

Anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic on the way to the airport knows that sweaty-palms, dreaded-missing-the-flight.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just don't succeed.

To find out exactly what happens if you miss your flight — especially if it's your fault, as various options including automatic rebooking, free overnight stays or meal vouchers may be available in certain cases if the reason you missed your flight was the airline's fault — we contact industry experts, including veteran flight attendants and airline representatives.

 After all, knowing what to do ahead of time can help a stressful situation seem a little less like a travel nightmare.

What should you do if you think you'll miss your flight?

Travelers who fear they will not make their flight should immediately notify the airline.

"If someone knows they're going to miss a flight before takeoff, it's good policy (and good manners) for that passenger to tell the airline," flight attendant Kelly Kincaid told Travel + Leisure. "Most flights these days have passengers standing by waiting for those precious open seats."

Giving the airline sufficient notice also increases your chances of being rebooked on the next available flight, space permitting.

And just because you're running late doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. Checking in online early and traveling light (carry-on only) can increase your chances of getting on the flight even if you're under the wire. After all, the gates for certain flights can open 10 to 15 minutes before departure. In other words, prepare to sprint.

What if you still can't catch your flight?

Depending on the airline, travelers may be charged a rebooking fee to board another flight. Some airlines may also charge a difference in airfare — meaning a missed flight can cause costly inconvenience.

JetBlue, for one, will try to waive the airfare difference on confirmed trips (and only charge the applicable change fee) when they can rebook travelers at a later departure time.

Southwest, on the other hand, never charges change fees — but travelers may have to bear the difference in fares.

If you arrive at the airport after your flight has closed or taken off, take a moment to assess the flight schedule board. Find later travel with the same airline, which can help you avoid paying extra fees or losing your entire itinerary, then show this option to the gate or check-in agent, which will help speed up the process.

Can you get a refund if you miss your flight?

Nope. But you can, on rare and fortuitous occasions, avoid penalties for your lateness.

"There's something called the 'flat tire rule,'" Kincaid explained to T+L, noting that not all airlines have this.

"Essentially, the rule could be used to only charge same-day confirmed [or] stand-by fees, instead of change fees and fare change fees, if passengers say they're late because of a flat tire, an accident or something similar. ."

In the same way that airlines avoid compensating passengers for weather-related cancellations, travelers also have some recourse when they're delayed for reasons beyond their control — like, a flat tire.

Although these policies are rarely published on airline websites, The Points Guy notes that some domestic airlines, including American Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest (and sometimes Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, depending on the case), will accommodate travelers who arrive on time two. hours of their original departure time, without making them pay fees or absorb fare increases.

What happens to your luggage if you miss your flight?

If you've missed your connection or been held up in security and your checked baggage has gone on without you, immediately find an airline representative. The porter may be able to track your bag and hold it for you until your arrival.

Even if missing your flight is inconvenient, you may be able to rebook a new flight on the same day.

When you miss your flight, your first priority is to get rebooked on a new flight. You can do this with the help of the airline or yourself through the carrier's app or customer service portal. If you can't get a confirmed seat on the next flight, ask the airline to add you to its standby list. Most airlines will let you fly standby on a later flight for free.

If you can't rebook a new flight with your initial carrier, find an alternative flight on a low-cost airline or use airline miles to book a last-minute ticket.

Whether you miss your flight or your airline cancels it, your airline will do its best to redirect any checked baggage to your final destination or the airline's baggage claim at your departure airport, depending on the situation.

In either case, acting as soon as possible will help save your trip and secure the next available seat on the next flight.

What happens if you miss your flight on purpose?

While it may come as a surprise to the meticulous traveler who usually arrives at the airport three hours before the scheduled departure time, some travelers actually miss flights on purpose.

Although not common, this can be done as a way to get cheap flights. Bargain hunters, for example, may find that it is more affordable to book a flight with a connection through where they want to go, rather than a direct flight to their desired destination. Travelers will then disembark at a stopover city and skip the rest of their itinerary.

When a traveler misses a flight and does not notify the airline, the rest of the itinerary is almost always cancelled. This means that if you try to get a flight deal by gaming the system, you may find yourself stranded or without a trip home. Frequent flyers will not receive miles for trips booked and skipped, and certain offenders may even find themselves banned from flying with the carrier as a result.

However, some airlines still have loose cancellation policies when missing your flight due to Covid-19. Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, United and Delta, for example, do not charge extra to change or cancel your flight in this case, except for basic economy fares. If you start to feel under the weather before your trip, cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time to avoid disappointment.