Missed Your Connection Because of a Delay? Here's What Applies
Your first flight is late, you run through the terminal, and the door to your connection is already closed. What happens next depends mostly on how you booked, who caused the delay, and where you were flying.
One ticket vs. separate tickets
- One booking (same confirmation/ticket): The airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If its delay made you miss the connection, it will normally rebook you on the next available flight.
- Separate bookings: If you booked the two flights separately, the second airline usually treats you as a no-show. Rebooking and refund protections generally don't carry over between separate tickets.
Rebooking, meals, and hotels (US airlines)
On the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard, these airlines commit to rebooking on their own flights at no extra cost for significant delays within their control: Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, and United.
- Rebooking on a partner airline: Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United commit to it. Allegiant, Frontier, and Southwest do not.
- Meal or meal voucher for a 3+ hour wait: all of the above airlines.
- Hotel and ground transportation if you're stuck overnight: all of the above except Frontier.
These commitments apply when the delay is within the airline's control. They usually don't apply to weather or air traffic control delays.
When a refund may apply
Under the DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260), if your rebooked itinerary arrives 3+ hours later than your original domestic itinerary (6+ hours international), or adds connections, and you decide not to travel and don't accept the rebooking or a credit, you may be owed a refund to your original payment method. Accepting and flying the new itinerary generally ends that right.
Missed connection in Europe: EU261
For itineraries on a single booking that depart from the EU (or arrive in the EU on an EU airline), EU Regulation 261/2004 looks at your arrival delay at the final destination. Under EU case law, a missed connection that gets you to your final destination 3+ hours late can qualify for fixed compensation (€250, €400, or €600 depending on distance), unless the cause was an extraordinary circumstance. The airline must also provide meals and, if needed, a hotel while you wait. See our EU261 page.
What to do at the airport
- Go straight to the airline's transfer desk or use the app. Rebooking options go fast.
- Screenshot the delay of your first flight and the reason given.
- Ask for meal and hotel vouchers if you're stuck because of a controllable delay.
- Keep receipts and boarding passes for every leg.
- Write down your scheduled vs. actual arrival at your final destination.
- Follow up in writing after your trip.
FAQ
Will the airline rebook me for free if I miss my connection? If both flights are on one booking and the delay was the airline's, it normally rebooks you at no extra cost. All major US airlines on the DOT dashboard commit to this for controllable delays.
What if I booked the flights separately? Protections usually don't carry over. The second airline may not rebook you for free.
Does the airline have to give me a hotel? Most large US airlines commit to a hotel for overnight controllable delays. Frontier does not list that commitment.
Do I get compensation for a missed connection in Europe? Possibly, under EU261, if it's one booking and you reached your final destination 3+ hours late for a reason within the airline's control.
Create your letter
Delay Draft writes a clear, organized letter you send to your airline. Delay Draft is not a law firm and does not file claims.