What to do if you missed your connecting flight during a layover

What to do if you missed a connecting flight, when compensation from the airline is due, and when you’ll have to manage on your own — we explain in this article.

Missing a flight due to airline fault

Situation No. 1: one ticket, one airline

If the plane is late for a connecting flight, and you have purchased a flight ticket with a layover for the entire route from one airline, there’s no need to worry: the carrier is obliged to send all delayed passengers on the next flight.

Waiting time depends on the schedule. If you have to wait more than two hours, you are entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation for missing a connecting flight is set by the specific carrier, but typically includes free phone calls, soft drinks, a meal voucher for a cafe, and a mother and child room for passengers with children under seven.

Example: you are flying on a route with a layover in Dubai, and you missed your connecting flight due to a delay on the first leg. In this case, the airline is obliged to get you to your final destination on the next available flight. Sometimes the flight may also involve layovers.

During the wait, you have the same rights as passengers whose flights have been delayed. After two hours of waiting — drinks, after four — hot meals, after six or eight (during the day) — a hotel.

Situation No. 2: one ticket, two airlines

When you purchase a ticket on Kupi.com from two different airlines, you need to be prepared for difficulties during the connection. Suppose there was a flight delay — what to do?

If two carriers are indicated on one ticket, it means that a special agreement has been concluded between them. The party responsible for the delay of the first flight is obliged to deliver you to your final destination. Therefore, if you missed your connecting flight, you should contact the check-in desk representative of the company responsible for the flight delay. They will confirm the delay and provide the necessary documents for the transfer.

Remember that when purchasing tickets from two different airlines, you need to ensure that an agreement on joint transportation and responsibility for delays has been concluded between them. This will help avoid unpleasant situations during flight connections.

Each airline has its own rules and conditions for compensation for missing a connecting flight. Therefore, if you find yourself in such a situation, be sure to contact both airlines by phone, explain the delay, and find out what documents are needed to receive compensation. Some companies provide a free flight the next day or reimburse accommodation and meal expenses in case of a delay of more than two or three hours.

Example: you are flying on a route with a layover, and the two legs are operated by different airlines. The first flight was delayed, and you missed the connecting plane. If the ticket is issued on a single form, then a codeshare agreement has been concluded between the carriers.

Then the first carrier will solve the problem of how to get you to your final destination: you will be transferred to the nearest flight to your final destination, in some cases with a layover.

Unfortunately, the representative of the airline at fault may not be at the airport. Contact them by phone or reach out to the airline whose flight you missed.

Situation No. 3: two tickets, one or two airlines

If you purchased two separate tickets for different legs of your journey, you are not considered a transfer passenger — you have an independent connection. If you miss the next flight, no one but you is responsible for it. This means that even if two flights are operated by the same airline and the departure was delayed, causing you to miss the next one, your ticket will simply be forfeited, and you will have to buy a new one.

For an unused ticket, in some cases, a partial refund is possible, but it all depends on the fare rules. A partial refund is only possible if the rules provide for a refund in case of NO SHOW, when the passenger did not appear for the flight without notifying the airline.

Pay attention to a very important point! If you purchased a round-trip ticket (for example, Dubai — Bangkok — Dubai) and missed the first part of the route (Dubai — Bangkok), then the return ticket is automatically canceled. This means you lose not only the outbound ticket but also the return one.

What to do in this situation? There is no universal solution to the problem, but in any case, you must contact the airline operating the flight you missed. Carriers often accommodate passengers, transfer them to another flight, and do not cancel the remaining segments, but everything here is individual.

Missing a flight due to passenger fault

Sometimes passengers miss connecting flights: they got carried away in duty-free or left the airport for a walk during a long layover. Situations vary, but the culprit is always one — the passenger.

What to do in such a case? Be sure to contact the airline whose flight you missed and try to find a compromise with their employee. Perhaps you will be able to get a partial refund for the ticket, or the airline will meet you halfway and transfer you — it all depends on your negotiation skills. But the obvious advice is to stay alert during a layover. Calculate your time carefully during a long connection; if you plan to go into the city, consider transport schedules and travel time to and from the airport. If your layover is three hours or less, leaving the airport makes no sense.

Universal tips for everyone

Whoever is at fault for the delay, conduct your dialogue with the airline employee as politely and calmly as possible. It is from them that it depends how and when you will reach your destination, and in some situations — for how much.

If the next flight is not departing soon, for example, the next day, explain to the airline employee the reason why you urgently need to reach your final destination. If the reason sounds convincing enough, and even better — if you have supporting documents, you might be transferred to an earlier flight, for instance, with another airline.

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