Missed Your Connecting Flight? Here's How to Claim Compensation
Claim up to $650 for a missed connecting flight & late arrival!
You’re on a trip with a connection, and your first flight is delayed. Because of this, you miss your connecting flight despite racing across the airport to try to make it in time. Have you experienced this?
It’s exasperating to say the least, right? But the good news is that, depending on where you’re traveling, you could be compensated for this scenario. In this guide, you’ll find out how and when you could get airline compensation for missed connections.
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Have you missed a connecting flight? Enter your flight info below to find out how much compensation you could receive.
Free Compensation CheckerWhat is a Missed Connecting Flight
A missed connection is a situation where you have one or more flights in the course of a journey as a result of a delay or cancellation on one or more previous flights. There can be lots of reasons behind the delay or cancellation, but if it's something the airline could have prevented, then you are entitled to compensation.
What Causes Missed Connections
Lots of things can lead to a missed connection. Some of these causes are within the airline’s control like staffing issues or aircraft maintenance, while others are considered extraordinary circumstances, which could be anything from political unrest to severe weather.
Missed Connections Caused by Flight Delays or Cancellations
If your flight itinerary includes connections, and the first leg of your trip is delayed or canceled, you’ll probably miss the next flight in your itinerary. If this happens, remember that:
- The airline has an obligation to help get you to your destination as soon as possible by booking you on the next available flight.
- If you don’t like any of the options offered and decide to not continue on, you have the right to cancel your flight(s) and get a refund for the unused parts of your trip as well as a return ticket to your point of departure.
- If you get to your final destination more than 3 hours late, you might be eligible for flight delay compensation if the airline was responsible for the delay.
What To Do if You Miss Your Connecting Flight
- Ask the airline staff or crew the reason for the delay or cancellation, and take note of their response.
- Keep all of your travel documents, including your boarding pass and electronic ticket. Also, keep any documents that prove you've had additional losses and costs, such as prepaid reservations, accommodation, and transportation.
- Ask the airline to rebook you. You should get rebooked for free if you missed your connecting flight because of an avoidable issue otherwise, you might have to pay fees.
- Call the airline if there is a long line of passengers trying to get rebooked. Call their international numbers if you can’t get through, or try their chat or social media pages.
If the airline cannot find you a substitute flight, book one yourself and keep the receipt. The airline is obligated to offer you a refund for this.
Find out if your missed connection is eligible for compensation by entering your flight information in our free compensation checker.Check Your Flight
Your Passenger Rights
Missing a connecting flight can seriously disrupt your travel plans and cause a lot of unnecessary frustration. Luckily, your passenger rights are protected in the EU, UK, and Canada. This means that you can claim compensation for these missed connections as well as for flight delays, canceled flights, and denied boarding.
When You Are and Aren’t Owed Compensation
If your missed connection was caused by something the airline should have prevented or avoided, then you can usually qualify for compensation.
If you missed the connection simply because you were late because you were having a meal or shopping, then you won’t be eligible for airline compensation, but you will get a rebooking. The difference here is that you will likely be charged a fee for the flight change.
Airlines generally won't assume responsibility for missed connections on two separate tickets. So, if you've booked two separate flights on different airlines and one of them was canceled or delayed, the other airline will not take responsibility if you miss your connecting flight.
Getting Missed Connection Compensation in Europe
In order to be eligible for compensation on flights in Europe, the missed connection must be the airline's fault. Therefore, you might qualify for compensation if:
- Your overall arrival delay at your final destination airport is at least three hours long
- Your initial flight was delayed or canceled because of something they should have prevented
To be eligible for compensation under EU law, your tickets must be on the same reservation or booking. So, if your ticket includes both legs of the journey, it is considered a single ticket. Also, your flight must be departing from an airport in Europe or the UK or you are flying with a European airline.
Also, eligibility applies to all ticketed passengers regardless of their fare class or airline type. Even ultra low cost airlines must comply with the regulations in Europe.
EU law includes the airports in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. If your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to $650 (€600) in compensation.
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Claiming Missed Connection Compensation in the EU
Under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, the amount of cash compensation you get depends on flight distance and delay time.
So, if your flight is delayed for over three hours at your final destination then you have crossed the eligibility threshold, so what you receive will depend on the distance of your flight as you can see below.
Flight Distance | Time delayed | Compensation |
Less than 1500 km | More than 3 hours | $256 (€250) |
1,500 – 3,500km | More than 3 hours | $410 (€400) |
Over 3,500km within the EU | More than 3 hours | $410 (€400) |
Over 3,500km outside the EU | 3-4 hours | $307 (€300) |
Over 3,500km outside the EU | More than 4 hours | $650 (€600) |
* USD amounts may vary depending on exchange rates.
In addition to flight compensation, passengers are entitled to care and assistance including:
- Free meals and refreshments as well as two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails; and
- Free hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel if your rebooked flight won’t leave until the next day and
- Reimbursement of the full ticket cost or a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity (when the delay is at least 5 hours).
If your flight is canceled (or delayed less than 4 hours for long-distance flights 3500 km), your compensation amount may be halved. This would depend on the overall amount of time you were delayed at your final destination (compared to your originally booked flight).
Missed Connecting Flight Compensation in the UK
The UK has a set of regulations known as UK261, which are nearly identical to the regulations in Europe. Based on these rules, if your flight arrives 3+ hours late, then you could be eligible for the following amounts in compensation:
- $250 (£220) for short flights
- $430 (£350) for medium flights
- $650 (£520) for long flights
Compensation for a Missed Connection in Canada
The air passenger rights regulations in Canada for flight delays, cancellations, and missed connections, are similar to the regulations in the EU and UK.
If you missed your connection because of a delay or cancellation that was within the airline’s control, the airline will try to book you on another flight. If you refuse this rebooking, and you don’t want to continue your journey, then you can get a refund for that part of your journey.
Otherwise, if you do accept the rebooking and your flight arrives at your final destination more than 3 hours past your originally scheduled arrival time, then you could be eligible for compensation.
Compensation amounts in Canada are based on the flight distance, the size of the airline operating your flight, and how long you were delayed.
Flight Delay | Small Airline | Large Airline |
3-6 hours | $86 ($125 CAD) | $278 ($400 CAD) |
6-9 hours | $174 ($250 CAD) | $486 ($700 CAD) |
9 or more hours | $348 ($500 CAD) | $695 ($1,000 CAD) |
Passengers who choose to take a ticket refund instead of alternate flight arrangements must still receive compensation for inconvenience if the disruption was within the airline’s control. Large airlines must pay them a minimum of $278 ($400 CAD) and small airlines, $86 ($125 CAD).
Compensation for a Missed Connection in the US
Unlike the EU, the US does not have set rules regarding passenger protection for flight disruptions. Since there are no federal laws requiring airlines to compensate passengers with cash or other compensation for flight delays, cancellations, or missed connections, the airlines decide if and how much to give passengers.
According to the US Department for Transportation, if your flight has a long delay, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room. But, keep in mind that they might refuse to offer you these amenities, especially if they were not responsible for the disruption.
Some airlines will provide travel vouchers, mileage flights, and upgrades in loyalty programs, but most of the time, they will just offer you an alternative flight - but be careful because there might be associated fees, if you or extraordinary circumstances caused the missed connection.
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Missed Connections in Israel
If your flight to or from Israel was delayed, you have a right to care and even compensation according to Israel's Legislation of flight compensation.
For delays over two (2) hours, you have the right to:
- Meals and beverages in proportion to the length of the delay
- Two phone calls, access to fax or email
- Hotel accommodation and a taxi to and from the airport for longer delays
If the delayed flight lasts more than five (5) hours but less than eight (8) hours, in addition to the benefits mentioned above, you are entitled to:
- Reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket within 21 days for the part of the trip that has not been made in addition to the parts already made if they are no longer relevant to your original plan. Also, you will be offered a return flight to the first point of departure, or
- An alternate flight that will be operated under similar conditions to the flight you originally booked. If you are offered a flight to an airport other than the one originally planned, the airline will pay the transfer cost to the decided initial point.
For delayed flights lasting more than 8 hours, you are entitled to delayed flight compensation, paid within 45 days of your request. The amount of compensation depends on the distance of the flight. Compensation can vary between $356 (1250 NIS) and $853 (3000 NIS).
Missed Connections in Turkey
If you've missed a connecting flight to or from Turkey, you have the right to claim compensation.
For delayed domestic flights, you can claim $102 (€100) from the airline.
For international flights, the passenger can receive payment in the following amounts:
- an equivalent of $256 (€250) in Turkish Lira for all the flights of 1500 kilometers or shorter,
- an equivalent of $410 (€400) in Turkish Lira for all the flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometers,
- an equivalent of $650 (€600) in Turkish Lira for all the flights longer than 3500 kilometers.
Filing a Missed Connection Compensation Claim
At AirAdvisor, we’re committed to helping all travelers who experience missed flights due to late connections. We know what to do when you miss a flight.
Most affected air passengers are unaware that they can get compensation for flight delays or cancellations. But even if they know and are trying to get paid, airlines are reluctant to respond. This is where we come in to help!
Our team of legal professionals can help you get compensation for a delayed flight due to a missed connection. Just fill in your flight information and ... relax. We’ll handle the entire process - from verifying your eligibility to participate in a dispute with the airline to defending your case in court. It’s that easy. Better still, we only get paid when you do.
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Tools to Help You Out
See our list of FREE tools in the links below:
Resources & Additional Reading
Some extra resources to help you better understand flight delay compensation:
- Delayed Flight Compensation Claim Deadlines
- What are Delay Reversals?
- Should I Accept Cash or Vouchers for a Delayed Flight?
- Business Trip Flight Delay Guide
Flight Delays by Issue
Read more about the most popular flight delay causes:
- Flight Delay due to Weather
- Flight Delay due to Diversion
- Flight Delay due to Aircraft Maintenance
- Flight Delay due to Overfueling
- Flight Delay due to Extraordinary Circumstances
People Also Ask
Can you claim compensation if you miss your connecting flight?
Yes, you can claim compensation as long as it is the airline's fault. If you've missed your flight because of an extraordinary circumstance or because you were late at the gate you cannot claim compensation.
What happens if an airline makes you miss your connection?
If the airline causes you to miss your connection, you are entitled to compensation and also care and assistance. This will depend on the location of your flight disruption.
How do you claim a missed connecting flight?
To make the process fast and easy, you can reach out to our team of legal experts. We've handled over 400,000 cases involving flight disruptions.
What happens if your first flight is delayed and you miss your connecting flight?
If the delay of the first flight was caused by the airline, you are entitled to compensation.
Is EU 261 compensation for missed connections?
Yes, a missed flight connection is covered by EU 261 as long as the disruption was the airline's fault.