It's every traveler's worst nightmare: missing your flight. You roll out of bed late, get a flat tire on the way, or get stuck in a long security line. Whatever the reason, your departure time is getting late, you're not at your gate, and suddenly, you've missed your flight.
And then comes the inevitable next step, where you frantically Googling "What should I do if I miss my flight?" and pray the search provides the answers you need.
Hopefully, you're not experiencing that as we speak, but the search algorithm takes you to the right place if you are. Because if the only words that cross your mind are "I missed my flight" and "What should I do," it's time to take a deep breath. You don't have to burn through your entire itinerary anymore. Whether you miss your first flight or your connecting flight takes off without you, we'll take you through everything you need to know about what to do next.
Is There a Fee for Missing a Flight?
Can You Get Your Money Back if You Miss Your Flight?
It’s My Fault I Missed My Flight: What Do I Do?
Does Your Airline Offer the “Flat Tire Rule?”
Fly Standby on the Next Available Flight
Rebook on a Budget Airline
Find Another Path to Your Final Destination
Travel at Another Time
It’s the Airline’s Fault I Missed My Flight. What Do I Do?
Speak with an Agent ASAP
Try to Change Your Flight Online
Try Calling an International Call Center
Check Your Credit Card Benefits
Next Vacay Can’t Save You from Missing Your Flight, But It Can Save You Money on Your Next Trip
Most airlines do not charge outright for missed flights. Of course, that says nothing about losing the value of your unused tickets. But you don't have to worry about additional fees on top of the original cost of your flight.
Most legacy carriers will rebook you on a later flight or allow you to fly standby on the next flight if possible. An important caveat is that you must inform the airline representative that you will miss your flight and show up at the airport as soon as possible after the flight departs.
On the other hand, budget airlines usually have stricter policies and additional fees. As a result, you may have to spend a little more to book a new ticket or be willing to fly with some low-cost airlines.
You usually cannot receive a refund on a missed flight. Depending on the circumstances of your situation and the terms of your fare, you may receive a partial credit or a free rebooking, but the only way you're likely to get a full refund is if the airline cancels your flight.
Most airlines are not obligated to help if you miss your flight. That can cost you serious cash if you have to rebook, in addition to losing funds from your original ticket. However, if your missed flight was caused by the airline, you will almost certainly be rebooked for free, and if it means an overnight stay at the airport, they will foot the bill for the hotel stay.
However, that says nothing about your original travel plans, although travel insurance may cover unused and prepaid travel reservations. But besides being a huge blow to your vacation plans, missing your flight can be a big blow to your wallet. Of course, all this uncertainty is why anxious fellow travelers will arrive hours before their scheduled flight to avoid any added stress.
Make no mistake; if it's your fault you miss your flight, most airlines won't be eager to cover your mistake. Many companies are only too happy to leave their customers to clean up their own messes. However, that doesn't mean the people who work for the company won't do what they can to help.
You may have limited options—and limited rights—to rearrange your travel plans. However, if you find yourself stuck on the ground when you should be in the air, all is not lost. Take a breath, drink up and know that you can still save your missed flight.
First things first: find out if the airline you're flying offers a "Flat Tire Rule." Consider the rule of flat tires, knights in shining armor to princesses in need of saving, a.k.a. your travel plans—and sanity.
The flat tire rule covers you for what the airline considers any legitimate reason, meaning a delay beyond your control. Think things like traffic, long security lines and, you know, flat tires. And while it doesn't cover things like snoozing right through your alarm, you can still probably sweet talk—or stumble—into relaxation here.
American Airlines has a domestic late arrival standby policy. So, if you arrive within two hours of the scheduled departure time of your missed flight, your tardiness will be covered—just like sneaking into the classroom when the teacher isn't looking.
Note: American Airlines does not apply this rule to the last scheduled flight of the day or international flights.
Delta Airlines has a flat tire rule but no specific policy. They handle everything on a case-by-case basis, so try to talk to an agent to explain your situation as soon as possible. They may be able to get you on the next available flight.
Southwest allows passengers to make changes up to ten minutes before the scheduled departure time. However, if you cannot change your flight through the website, you must call at least ten minutes before your flight departs to notify a Southwest agent that you will miss your flight.
United Airlines puts passengers on standby for the next available flight at no extra cost. Make sure you arrive within two hours of your original departure time to take advantage of this rule.
With the way airlines tend to overbook their flights, getting a confirmed seat on the next flight may not be easy.
If you miss your first flight and cannot get a confirmed seat on the next flight, request a place on the standby list. You can then wait at the entrance to get something. With a little luck, you might be able to grab a last-minute open seat.
Now, under the policies of some airlines, such as American Airlines, you may be able to book a later flight for free. Others, such as JetBlue, may charge you a standard fee.
Missing your first flight is the last way anyone wants to start a vacation. Instead of looking up to a majestic peak, you find yourself buried under high pressure. If the airline doesn't accept the reason you missed your flight, you may not have any options available—at least not through them.
So, if the airline won't put you on the next flight, you may have to do it yourself. Instead of waiting, consider booking a new ticket. For the same price some airlines pay to fly standby, you can buy a new flight on a low-cost airline.
Of course, this means some sacrifices in comfort. But as avid travelers, we can confidently say the inconvenience of a few hours on a flight today is better than flying out two days later or canceling your vacation plans entirely. And luckily for those of us who have missed flights in the past and will do so in the future, many low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier are offering last-minute deals on cheap one-way tickets. You may also be able to cut costs by booking your ticket at the airport!
With your vacation at stake, it might be time to think outside the box. For example, if you can't find a direct flight to your final destination, you may need to look at flights to other cities, routes with additional stops, etc.
And don't forget, even though airplane travel is the fastest, that only takes into account your time in the air. Once you factor in the wait until your next flight and any long layovers, it might be time to consider putting some rubber to the road.
Renting a car or taking a bus can save you time and money and ensure you get to your destination as quickly as possible, so you can start enjoying your vacation sooner.
Rebooking your flight on the same day as your missed flight can be expensive. On the other hand, if your schedule is flexible enough, booking the next day or even a few days later can help reduce the damage to your wallet. Just make sure you avoid any delays by getting to the airport early.
The last thing you want to do is repeat your mistake and end up with another missed flight on your hands.
Of course, no one wants to miss their flight. But if you're going to miss the flight, it's better to miss your flight because of something the airline did than nothing you did. Whether it's bad weather, lack of staff or something else that causes cancellations or delays, the results are often the same.
So, here's what to do when an airline makes you miss a scheduled connecting flight.
Some psychic abilities will do wonders here to see trouble coming before it hits. But if not, at the first sign of trouble, contact the airline representative. The sooner you talk to a representative, the more options you'll have and the sooner you can plan what to do next. If you wait, you risk being at the back of a long line of passengers in the same situation as you, with far fewer options at your fingertips.
Airline representatives will be able to help by confirming your flight status and other things they can do, confirm seats on the next flight, put you at the top of the standby list, etc. And remember, a little kindness goes a long way toward getting the best solution that works for you.
It used to be that the only option was to wait in a long line to speak to a gate agent or someone to help you. Now, with everyone carrying a tiny supercomputer in their pocket, you have options at the push of a button.
If you miss a connection because your flight is canceled or delayed, try the airline's website or mobile app to get a jump start on finding other flight options.
When massive cancellations/delays cause many flights to be missed, you may end up fighting with countless other passengers trying to contact the airline's call center. You can try to avoid annoying hold music by calling the airline's international call center.
You might think you need to save an international number for international travel, but make no mistake, you can use this trick for any missed domestic flights too.
The idea is that international centers won't experience the same problems that plague local agents, so you can get through them quickly and get the help you need.
Your travel credit card and the insurance that comes with it can be your lifesaver. When things go awry, having a great travel card can help you avoid missing out on some solid benefits and soften the blow of your missed flight. Credit card travel insurance can cover a wide range of coverage from rental car insurance to trip delays or cancellations and even medical emergencies.
Contacting your card issuer can inform you of all available options before you speak with an airline representative. So, let's say your flight home is canceled and the next flight isn't until tomorrow. Your card may help cover meals, hotel stays and more to tide you over until your new flight.
Flight delays can feel like the world is coming to an end. You spend so much time planning your trip and finding the perfect flight deal that it feels like a waste when your flight takes off without you. Unfortunately, Next Vacay cannot magically take you to another flight. But, it can help save some of your hard-earned time and money.
Signing up for the Next Vacay newsletter gives you access to incredible deals around the world, saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your next trip. Not to mention time spent online looking for the best flights. Next Vacay does all the hard work, so you don't have to do anything except book.
And for any offer you book, you can enter your travel details into your account. So, you know...less chances of you forgetting and missing your flight.
Skip the missed flight and take to the skies with Next Vacay.