How to Get Help and Compensation

One of the most stressful elements of travel is having a connecting flight—you just never know what might go wrong, whether it’s bad weather, mechanical issues, late inbound planes, or air traffic delays. Oftentimes, these factors are out of the airlines’ control, but that still leaves you having to figure out what to do after missing a flight connection. 

According to the Department of Transportation, roughly 20 percent of flights across all carriers in 2025 were delayed by at least 15 minutes or more. So, what should you do when you miss a connecting flight? Is it best to get in line with everyone else at the ticket counter or call the airline directly? Are you entitled to compensation, which sometimes happens (depending on the delay and situation)? Here’s how to handle a missed connection due to a delay—and how to get your money if you’re owed.

What to Do If You Miss a Connecting Flight Due to a Delay

First, it’s important to understand why the delay occurred. If you missed a flight due to personal reasons, there isn’t anything the airline can do, meaning you’ll need to rebook and get a new flight or alter your travel plans. However, if the missed connection is caused by the carrier, this is when they can step in and help. 

In October 2024, the Department of Transportation implemented the automatic refund rule, which requires airlines to provide automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed. It states that “passengers are entitled to a refund when their flight is canceled or significantly changed and they no longer wish to take that flight or be rebooked, when their checked baggage is significantly delayed, or when extra services they paid for—like Wi-Fi—are not provided.” The refund must be “automatic, prompt, in the original form of payment, and in the full amount paid.” 

“You can also ask the airline to rebook you on another airline,” says Beth Rowan, founder of Tapestry Travel. If they will endorse your ticket to the new carrier, this could save you a fare collection, but there’s no rule requiring airlines to do this. 

Rowan says the first thing you should do when you’ve missed a flight connection is head to the carrier’s customer service counter. “While waiting in line, call the airline at the same time,” she adds. “Often, a call goes through faster than the service desk.” At that point, you can ask when the next possible flight to get rebooked on is departing, if there are additional connections, and whether you’d fly in the same class of service. 

Furthermore, Rowan suggests asking for meal and hotel vouchers, if applicable. “If the flight will be delayed long enough to require an overnight stay or you will miss a meal, the airline must provide vouchers,” she notes. “The hotel voucher will be at a hotel of their choosing, but they must provide this, if applicable.”

Lastly, Rowan encourages travelers to remain reasonable and calm. “Any employee will always be following the policies of their airline employer,” she says. And if you’ve booked your airline tickets through a travel advisor, call them immediately. “Ask them to help you with the problem, whatever it may be. They can act on your behalf with the airline and resolve issues while you relax. That’s what they’re there for.”

How to Find Out If You’re Entitled to Compensation for a Missed Connecting Flight

Again, the first thing to consider when it comes to receiving compensation for a missed connection is who is truly at fault. If you’re the one who is responsible—meaning you missed the flight due to your own tardiness or other personal issues—you are not entitled to compensation. Sometimes, an airline ticketing agent might try to help you book another flight, but that is at their discretion. 

That said, if you miss a connection because the flight before yours was delayed, you are entitled to compensation under the automatic refund rule mentioned above. It states you are entitled to a refund if “your flight is canceled and the airline does not rebook you,” “your flight is canceled and you do not accept rebooking,” or “your flight is significantly changed and you don’t accept the new itinerary nor any offers for rebooking or other compensation.” 

Essentially, you are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels a flight, regardless of the reason, and doesn’t rebook you on a new one, or if you don’t accept alternative compensation such as a flight voucher or miles. “Significantly changed” flights include domestic trips that depart at least three hours earlier or arrive at least three hours later than scheduled, international trips that depart at least six hours earlier or arrive at least six hours later than scheduled, flights where the origin or destination airport is changed, flights with increased connections, flights where the passenger is downgraded to a lower class of service, or flights with connections at different airports, and flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating for those traveling with disabilities. 

Additional situations that can lead to a refund include significantly delayed baggage—that is, if you file a mishandled baggage report and your property is not delivered within 12 hours of landing (for domestic flights), or within 15 to 30 hours of landing (for international flights), depending on how long your flight was.

Lastly, you’re entitled to a refund for any fees you paid for extra services—think Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment, or seat selection—if they are not provided by the carrier during your trip. 

It’s worth noting, however, that you are not entitled to a refund if you accept a rebooked flight with the airline or continue with a significantly changed itinerary. “Most U.S. airlines have committed to providing benefits such as hotels for overnight delays or meals for passengers during significant delays and cancellations that are caused by issues within the airline’s control,” the Department of Transportation’s website states.

How to Claim Compensation for a Missed Connection

Under the automatic refund rule, airlines must provide prompt, automatic refunds in the same form of payment whenever they are owed. And those refunds must be issued within seven business days for credit card purchases or 20 calendar days if other payment methods were used. 

Airlines also cannot replace cash refunds owed to customers with travel credits or vouchers, unless the passenger chooses to accept them. In that case, credits and/or vouchers must remain valid for at least five years from the date they are issued. 

If you do end up accepting a meal, hotel, or transportation voucher, you’ll need to get this from the airline customer service counter, as they’re typically not given out automatically. 

Travel Insurance for a Missed Connection

Lots of travel rewards credit cards also offer assistance with trip delay reimbursement and expenses accrued from a delay, like hotel stays and meals, as included benefits. These are some of the best with trip delay protection as a perk:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• The Platinum Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

You can also purchase separate travel insurance to help protect against delays, missed connections, and canceled trips. And while it’s an extra expense, it can be worth every penny for the peace of mind should you end up needing reimbursement, meals, or a hotel in a pinch.