What if I miss my connection?

Question

I m going to a vacation and I am worried because I have tight connection between two flights. If my first plane delayed. I won't make the second one- adn that's the last flight of the night!! If that happened, would the airline owe me, since if would be their fault? Would they hold the plane for me?

Answer 1

Depending on how much you spent for your ticket, Travel Insurance is suggested for vacations in excess of $1000. Rule of thumb NEVER book last flights for this very reason. You need to change your outlook on delays first of all. Delays are not always the airlines fault. Usually weather is to blame and unfortunately, we (the airline) can not talk to God and request sunny days with 100% visibility. Even if its clear on the ground, it could be pea soup 10,000 feet in the air that the FAA could mandate what is called a ground delay program or Air Traffic Control Holds. When this happens, you are at your own mercy.

The first answer was very detailed and correct. Airlines WILL NOT compensate for any reason if it is what is known as "Force Majeur" or something beyond the scope of their control. A pilot can not fly the plane faster, they can not take off in incliment weather and they can not work miracles.

Unfortunately, we can not hold a plane at the gate. We still have on time departures that have to be met. If there is a large number of people who will misconnect and its the last flight of the night, we could possibly hold the plane for 10-15 minutes, but its not always a guarentee.

Legal connection time in most airports is 30 minutes, but that is still impossible for some places like Atlanta on an IROP night, (Irregular Operations...such as bad weather or ATC holds) or Las Vegas if you are changing airlines, like Delta to America West. Some airports like Las Vegas if you change terminals you have to go back through TSA check points.

If you booked your reservations seperately, then you are on your own no matter what the delay is. If its an airline that ticketing is not shared, like say you fly Phoenix to Vegas on Southwest to connect with Delta to Atlanta and if Southwest is delayed coming into Vegas, you have no recourse and your reservation is subject to cancellation.

If the delay is due to mechanical failure or crew scheduling or delay, then the airline would provide accomidations, IF there are any available. Sometimes there may be an event that will have every hotel in the city booked solid and you will have no choice but to stay in the airport.

Also, be advised that should you miss your connection, you can not get your bags back for the night. So, make sure you pack in your carry on what you will need for over night and the following day just in case. Remember to pack small travel size toiletries in a ziploc bag in your carry on so that you will have them with you incase you make the flight, but your bags dont. ALWAYS pack medication and car keys in your carry on as well. NEVER check them.

When is your vacation and where you going too and where is your connection. Unfortunately you cant predict the weather, but if you shoot me an e-mail to [e-mail] I could kind of help you judge how it may be. Ive been in the industry for years and the seasons are pretty much the same.

Plan for both events. Just incase...make sure you pack accordingly. But dont live your life in fear either. Airlines will do everything they can to get you to your destination ontime, however its never a guarentee. You book a space on an aircraft to a specific destination. They dont have to get you there at a specific time nor do your bags have to arrive with you. Unfortunately thats the nature of the beast.

If you are flight departing is delayed, usually they will try to rebook you to avoid the misconnetion by routing you non-stop when available or with another airline when possible. OR if the delay is so bad, they will give you the option of rebooking your departure another day. IF you are going on a cruise, unfortunately it will be up to you to get to the next port of call. The airline will not assist you with that.

Travel Insurance as I mentioned above works on a reimbursment basis. Check out www.clarkhoward.com and you can get some suggestions on some good companies. Go to the airlines website and read the Contract of Carriage, it will outline what they are responsible for and what you are entitled to. Some people may tell you about Rule 240. That will only apply IF the other airline(s) have a seat and will accept your ticket. They dont have to accept any other airlines ticket #1 and #2 if it is a discounted fare, they have the right to refuse accepting that ticket as well. It is always at the other carriers disgretion.

Should you be transferred to another airline, it is at the initial carriers choice. It has to be an airline they have a ticketing agreement with. Southwest doesnt have agreements with any other airline other than ATA. And for example, most airlines will sell seats on each other, but some discount carriers like Spirit or Sun Country can't get seats or passenger protection on most other airlines.

These are of course all worst case scenario's but atleast you have an idea. Again, dont worry about it. Most airlines will allow you to get on an earlier flight for a fee. Most offer what is called Same Day Confirm, if your ticket is eligable and not purchased via a 3rd party travel website like Priceline, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire....etc, for $25 you can be confirmed on an earlier flight. Some still offer Stand-by. So if you truely do fear missing your connection, go to the airport early and see if you can get on an earlier flight and just have a long lay over, or possibly go non-stop. If you'd like some help seeing what your options are, again, shoot me an e-mail and I will assist you in checking time tables and flight availability.

Good luck and again, dont worry, things may not always work the way they are planned, just be prepared.

Answer 2

It all depends on the situation. If the airline made you miss your connection because your plane had a mechanical problem that caused a delay, then the airline would be responsible and would put you on another airline or put you up in a hotel over night. If you were late catching your flight due to a delay caused by weather or air traffic control, the airline would only be responsible to put you on their next available flight. In your case, this would be the next morning. The airlines consider weather delays "acts of God" and therefore, consider themselves not responsible for any inconvenience. You would have to make your own arrangements for lodging/food for the night. Some airlines will try to put you on another airline if there are seats available, but most will only do this as a last resort if the delay is weather related. Most of the time airlines will not hold planes for late connecting passengers. The airlines' goal is to make on-time departures, so they will only risk holding up another plane in very rare circumstances.

Answer 3

I'm assuming that the connecting flight is not only on the same airline, but part of the same itinerary?

If you are delayed, that airline will be responsible for getting you on the next available flight to your final destination. What you get depends on why the plane was delayed.

If the reason was due to a mechanical fault or something within the airline's control, then you should get a ticket on the next flight, even if it's on another airline (but you'll have to ask for it). If there are no more flights, then you'll get a seat for the next morning, plus the airline should cover your hotel costs (their choice... they'll give you a voucher), plus maybe a voucher for food.

If they delay was due to weather or something out of their control, then they'll do whatever is reasonably necessary to get you there on their own planes. But in your case, if you miss the last flight, they'll put you on one the next morning, and you will NOT get any compensation for hotel/food.

Now, if the two flights are unrelated (i.e., you bought them separately) and you miss the second flight, then you are a no-show, and the 2nd airline is not responsible for anything.

Answer 4

I have had this happen MANY times, just in June actually. If you miss your connecting flight you just need to go to a desk of the airline you are flying on. Let them know you missed your connecting flight. They will either put you on another airlines flight if there is one that night, or give you a voucher for food & lodging. But this does depend on the reason for the delay. If it was weather, you won't get anything, maintenance problem, they will. Basically, if no fault of their own, you won't get a hotel voucher, but usually still get one for food. Don't hesitate to ask for it though. Sometimes they don't give you anything unless you ask. Best advice though - do research ahead of time. Find out what other airlines fly to where you are going, get their flight numbers. Be agressive, but not mean, to the agents, ask to speak to a supervisor if you feel you are getting the run-around.

Answer 5

most airlines would put you up for the night, or try to get you on another flight, even if it's not with them. They want to keep you happy because they want you business in the future.

Answer 6

They don`t hold planes anymore they used to do that.
You just have to wait until the next flight.
if you have to sleep in the airport or hotel will depend on the airline (if they pay or not).

Answer 7

If it is not weather caused, they would put you up for the night and get you out the next day. If it is weather caused, you are on your own, but they would assist you.