What Happens if You Miss Your Flight?

Even with the best planning, missed flights happen. Long security lines, rush hour traffic, or a faulty alarm can all cause the dreaded missed flight.

Realizing you're going to miss a flight can be stressful, but knowing what happens next can help you feel more calm and collected. What happens if you miss your flight? Typically, you'll have to pay a fee and any price difference to reschedule for the next available flight.

What To Do if You’re Going To Miss a Flight

If you have a sinking feeling you’re not going to make it in time for your flight, the first thing you should do is contact the airline. By giving them advanced notice, you can avoid being labeled a “no-show” and risking your itinerary being canceled. 

This will also give you a head start on getting booked on another flight. You might be able to do this via live chat, over the phone with a representative, or when you arrive, airport staff can direct you to the customer service desk.

Be sure to have your ticket confirmation number or flight number ready to speed up the process.

Does Travel Insurance Cover a Missed Flight?

Travel insurance can help protect you against missed flights, but this is not a guarantee. Check the policy details to determine if missed flight coverage is included or offered as an add-on. We recommend travel insurance like VisitorsCoverage because it offers a range of travel insurance plans tailored to different types of travelers, and plans can be customized so that you're not paying for benefits that are unnecessary for your trip.

Related: What Is Travel Insurance?

When does travel insurance cover a missed flight?

Some reasons for missing a flight are clearly beyond your control, and if you can provide documentation to prove it, you’ve got a better chance of insurance covering your missed flight. Travel insurance generally covers a missed flight due to:

• Extreme weather or natural disasters
• A transportation accident
• Public transport delays

Related: Trip Cancellation Insurance: How It Works

When will travel insurance NOT cover a missed flight?

There are several reasons that will exclude a missed flight from insurance coverage. If it’s a result of poor planning on your part or an issue caused by the airline, your insurance policy won’t apply. Travel insurance likely won’t cover a missed flight due to:

• Oversleeping or not getting to the airport early enough
• Getting stuck in airport security
• Not being at the correct gate
• Mechanical issues with the plane
• Airline delays or overbooked flights

Connecting flight delays or cancellations could be eligible for coverage. It's crucial to review policy terms, notify the insurer promptly, and understand coverage limits before you count on it. 

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Are You Entitled to a Refund if You Miss Your Flight?

Airlines are unlikely to offer refunds for missed flights. Getting your money back for a missed flight depends on several factors, including the type of ticket you purchased, airline policies, and the reason for the missed flight. If you have a flexible or refundable ticket, you'll have more options to reschedule without hefty fees. For nonrefundable tickets, rebooking fees and fare differences might apply. 

Airlines are not obligated to provide a refund if you miss a flight due to your own circumstances, like arriving late. If the airline cancels or significantly delays your flight, you may qualify for a refund or alternative rebooking choices. Some airlines might offer flexible policies that allow you to rebook or receive credit for future travel in situations beyond your control, like severe weather or mechanical issues.

What Happens if You Miss an International Flight?

Missing an international flight can cause more stress than missing a domestic one, but the steps to remedy the situation are pretty much the same as if you missed a domestic flight. If you miss an international flight, the consequences depend on factors such as the airline's policies, ticket type, and the reason for missing the flight. 

If you missed your international flight due to circumstances beyond your control (like a delayed connecting flight), airlines might help rebook. However, if it's due to personal reasons or lateness, you'll likely need to purchase a new ticket. Either way, communicate with the airline as soon as you can if you’ve missed an international flight or are fairly certain you’re going to miss one.

Rebooking With a Different Airline

If your original airline can't rebook you on any upcoming flights or is going to charge you a large rebooking fee, you can consider these tips for getting your trip back on track.

• Consider budget airlines: If your original airline can't accommodate you, explore booking a new flight on a low-cost carrier, like Spirit or Frontier. You can often find cheaper, last-minute one-way flights on these carriers.
• Utilize airline miles: To help offset the cost of rebooking, you can use your airline miles to help bring the cost down on last-minute award flights. Many airlines have removed close-in booking fees and some released last-minute award space for empty seats.

How Do Different Airlines Handle Missed Flights?

Your options for rebooking (and how much it’s going to cost you) depend entirely on the airline you originally booked with when you miss a flight. You should always check an airline’s current policies before booking, but we’re going to break down how a few major airlines handle missed flights to give you an idea of what you can expect. 

What happens if you miss your flight on American Airlines?

American Airlines passengers who arrive at the airport within two hours of their scheduled departure time have the option to be rebooked on the next available flight as a standby traveler. The good news is that in this case, you won’t be required to pay any change fees or fare differences.

A $75 change fee is typically imposed if you are beyond the two-hour window.

What happens if you miss your flight on Delta?

If you’re flying Delta and you miss your flight, what happens next varies as Delta doesn’t have a standard policy for missed flights. This airline handles each missed flight on an individual basis. Your best bet to resolve the issue quickly is to speak to a Delta agent at the airport about being rebooked. 

What happens if you miss your flight on JetBlue?

JetBlue’s missed flight policy can leave travelers a bit up in the air. If you know you are going to miss your flight, call them before your flight departs. If you cancel, you'll receive a credit for future flights in the amount of the ticket price minus any fees.

Missing your flight without canceling designates you as a no-show, resulting in forfeiture of the non-refundable ticket portion.

What happens if you miss your flight on Southwest?

You can rest a bit easier if you booked a flight with Southwest and know you’re not going to make it in time for takeoff. Southwest will help you out if you’re less than two hours late for your scheduled departure by booking you on the next available flight as standby. 

What happens if you miss your flight on Spirit?

Spirit Airlines has a strict “No-Show Policy” for missed flights. While you can rebook your ticket on the next available departure, doing so will come with a $200 missed flight rebooking fee. Plus, you'll have to pay any price difference between your old and new tickets. 

FAQs 

What happens if you miss your flight because of security?

Unfortunately, if you miss your flight due to long security lines or being pulled aside for more thorough passenger screening, you don’t have much recourse. Even if security delays are responsible, you will likely still be held accountable. It’s best to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes early if you’re taking a domestic flight and two hours early for international ones to leave plenty of time to make your way through security. 

What happens if you miss your connecting flight?

Booking a flight with a short layover may sound convenient, but doing so always comes with a risk. If you miss a connecting flight, typically due to delays with your initial flight, the airline's response will depend on the circumstances. 

In the scenario where the airline books both flights under the same reservation, it might automatically rebook you on the next available connection. If you booked separate tickets, you'll likely be responsible for rebooking and potential costs. 

Approach airline staff or customer service for assistance, especially if the delay was due to airline-related factors. Some airlines have policies to accommodate passengers in such situations, offering alternative flights or accommodations if necessary. Travel insurance could also provide coverage for missed connections.

What happens to your bags if you miss your connecting flight?

In the event of missing a connecting flight, what happens to your bags depends on several factors. If your entire journey is booked under one reservation with the same airline or partner airlines, your bags should be automatically rerouted to your final destination, even if you miss a connection. If they're delayed, you may have some recourse.

Your bags might not be automatically transferred if you have separate reservations for different airlines or flights. In this case, you may need to collect your bags, clear customs (if applicable), and recheck them for your next flight. This process can be time-consuming and lead to further delays.

Customs and immigration procedures can also impact bag handling. Your bags might be held until you can be rebooked on a new flight if you miss a connection due to delays in passing through these checkpoints.

Airlines have varying policies, so it's crucial to communicate with airline staff at the airport.
If necessary, they can guide you through the process of rebooking or retrieving your bags and provide information on the management of your bags.

Related: Baggage Delay Insurance

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