Missed Your Flight? Here’s What to Do Next

That sinking feeling when you realize you’ve missed your flight ranks among travel’s worst moments. Whether traffic conspired against you or you simply lost track of time, knowing what to do next can salvage your trip and minimize additional costs.

Don’t Panic—Act Quickly

The moment you realize you’ll miss your flight, contact the airline immediately. Many carriers allow rebooking on later flights if you notify them before departure. Waiting until after your flight leaves eliminates this option.

Use the airline’s app if phone lines are busy. Most major carriers now handle rebookings digitally with surprising efficiency.

Know Your Ticket Type

Your options depend largely on what kind of ticket you purchased:

Flexible tickets typically allow free rebooking on the same day or within 24 hours. These premium fares pay off when plans go sideways.

Basic economy and deeply discounted fares usually mean starting over with a new ticket purchase. Some airlines offer flat-rate same-day change fees as a middle ground.

If It’s the Airline’s Fault

Missed connections due to delayed inbound flights are the airline’s responsibility. They’ll rebook you on the next available flight at no charge and may provide meal vouchers or hotel accommodations for overnight delays.

Document everything—take photos of departure boards showing delays and keep all receipts. This evidence supports compensation claims later.

Travel Insurance Considerations

Comprehensive travel insurance often covers missed flights due to covered reasons like illness, weather, or traffic accidents. Review your policy before assuming you’re out of luck.

Credit cards with travel benefits may offer similar protections. Check your card’s terms—you might have coverage you didn’t know about.

Preventing Future Misses

Build buffer time into airport arrivals. Two hours for domestic flights and three for international provides margin for security lines and unexpected delays.

Set multiple alarms and calendar reminders. Enable flight status notifications from your airline’s app. Small precautions prevent expensive mistakes.