what happens if a flight delays causes you to miss your connecting flight?

Question

I have only flown a couple of times, and need to know what happens if you miss a conecting flight due to a delay? my mother in law and sister in law are currently sitting on the runway in dallas and im pretty sure they are going to miss thier connecting flight in detroit. i have to travel an hour and a half with a 6 day old baby to pick them up, so i am trying to figure out what to do? HELP!

Answer 1

call the airline they are flying on and ask them when the next connecting flight will be . I am sure they will be glad to help you . good luck .

Answer 2

Is it northwest? After the Dallas flight takes off, the airline will know their estimated arrival time in Detroit. You can call the airline and ask that your in-laws be put on the next available flight. Hopefully this way they will get right onto the next flight and not have to battle with other passengers who missed the same connection for limited seats.

Answer 3

If the connecting airline is the same airline and on the same itinerary, the gate agent on the connecting end will usually "protect" some seats for them (save seats for them on a later flight, if any.)

If they are separate airlines, such as a Southwest flight out of DAL (Love Field) and Northwest flight out of Detroit, then there's nothing that will be done for them and they simply miss their flight.

If the flight is delayed due to the airline's fault (mechanical or crew problems) then the airline will issue a hotel and meal voucher, if needed.

The best way to determine is to goto the airline's website and look up their contract of carriage.

Answer 4

An airline is required by law to get you from your point of origin to your destination. As long as your in-laws bought both flights from the same airline, or from ones that share services you have nothing to worry about except what time they get there. If they miss their connecting flight, the airline will put then on the next one even if that is the next day.

Answer 5

Every case is different. If the flight was delayed for weather, your options are less. Typcialy they will be booked on a later flight.

Your best bet is to call the airline.

Answer 6

first check the flight's schedule on the airlines web site, usually under "flight status" also you can even follow the flight path through:
http://flightaware.com/

http://www.flightview.com/

that will help you with the pick-up arrangements.

Then if they missed their connection, they will be travelling on the next available flight, this is tricky as depends on the airlines availability to put them on the "firts plane"

Here they should call you as soon as they arrive to DTW/Detroit to confirm their connecting fligt to destination.

FYI: If they are arriving less than half an hour between connecting flights, they most probably miss their connection.

Answer 7

My daughter's flight was suppose to leave Dallas at 9 for Orange County California. Since she hasn't answered her cell phone I guess her flight is running late. She's connecting to Seattle so I hope she isn't stuck there too long. She hates lay overs.

Answer 8

If the connecting flight is with the same airline ( or a partner airline such as US Airways and United) they will put you on a later flight, no big deal. If it is a different airline and not an airline partner, that is your problem.

Answer 9

same thing happened to me once while traveling to Seattle From Dallas, My connecting flight in Denver was canceled due to poor weather. The airline made sure that I made my connection, although it was on a different airline. so you shouldn't have any problems.

Answer 10

Call the airline before you head for the airport. You will be told when they will be placed on another flight. You can also go on-line to get flight information. Ask them for the link.