Missing a flight is every traveler’s worst nightmare. You oversleep, suffer a flat tyre or get stuck in a long security queue. Whatever the case may be, by the time your flight’s scheduled departure time arrives, you will have missed airplane it because you were not at your gate. The next natural step is to panickedly type, What do I do if I miss my flight? into Google, all the while crossing your fingers that you actually find useful information.
Hopefully you’re not going through that right now, but if you were, the search engine optimisation is what led you here. Because if the only things on your mind are I missed airplane and What do I do, you need to take a moment to calm down. Don’t go setting fire to your entire travel plan just yet. We will walk you through the steps you need to take in the event that you miss your initial flight or your connecting flight leaves without you.
Does missed airplane Cost Money?
In most cases, airlines won’t even make you pay to missed airplane. Of course, that doesn’t address the fact that your unused ticket is now worthless. However, you need not worry about any hidden charges added to the price of your ticket. If your original flight is cancelled, most major airlines will let you fly standby on the next available flight or rebook you on another flight. However, you must contact the airline to let them know you won’t make your flight, and you must arrive at the airport as soon as possible after the plane has taken off.
Low-cost carriers, on the other hand, have more stringent rules and higher prices. As a result, rebooking a flight or taking a seat in the standby queue may cost more money on some budget airlines.
If you missed airplane, will you get a refund?
In most cases, missed airplane do not qualify for a refund. A full refund is only possible if the airline cancels your flight, but you may be eligible for a partial credit or free rebooking depending on the circumstances and the terms of your fare.
If you missed airplane, airlines typically aren’t obligated to do anything to help you. If you need to reschedule, you may end up losing a lot of money on top of what you spent on the original ticket. If your missed airplane was the airline’s fault, however, you can expect a free rebooking and, if necessary, a free hotel stay if you have to spend the night at the airport.
However, this does not speak to the viability of your original trip plans; however, unused and pre-paid hotel reservations may be covered by your travel insurance. The financial impact of missing a flight could be substantial, in addition to the emotional toll it would take on your vacation. Because of this, your nervous fellow passengers will arrive at the airport several hours before takeoff.
It’s All on Me What Should I Do If I missed airplane?
Don’t be fooled — most airlines won’t pick up the tab if you missed airplane because of something you could have prevented. Too many businesses are content to let unhappy customers clean up after themselves. But that doesn’t mean the employees won’t pitch in and lend a hand if they can.
It’s possible that your rights and recourse for rearranging your trip are severely constrained. The situation is not hopeless, however, if you find yourself on the ground when you ought to be in the air. Calm down, have a drink, and realise that there is still hope for making your flight.
What is your airline’s policy on the Flat Tyre Rule?
The first order of business is to determine whether or not the airline in question has a Flat Tyre Rule. Think of the flat tyre rule as your saving grace when your travel plans (and sanity) are in jeopardy.
Any valid reason, as determined by the airline, is covered by the flat tyre rule. Consider delays caused by traffic, lengthy security lines, or even something as simple as a flat tyre. Even if it doesn’t include things like sleeping through your alarm, you might be able to charm, or at least fumble, your way into a little leniency here.
American Airlines has a policy in place for its own late arrival standby passengers. It’s like sneaking into class when the teacher isn’t looking: your tardiness won’t count if you show up within two hours of the missed airplane’s departure time. The last flight of the day and international flights are exempt from this policy on American Airlines.
There is a general flat tyre rule at Delta Airlines, but no firm policy. Everything is handled on a case-by-case basis, so it’s best to get in touch with an agent as soon as possible to explain your situation. They could possibly book you on the next flight out.
Up until 10 minutes before departure, Southwest allows changes to tickets. If you’re unable to make changes to your flight online, you should call Southwest at least ten minutes before your flight leaves to let them know you won’t make it.
United Airlines offers free standby service for customers waiting for the next available flight. To take advantage of this rule, you must arrive within two hours of your scheduled departure time.
Take the Next Available Flight as a Standby Passenger after you missed airplane
Overbooking by airlines makes it difficult to guarantee a seat on the next flight. If you are unable to get a confirmed seat on the next flight, you can ask to be placed on the standby list. Once you get to the airport, wait at the boarding gate until a seat becomes available. You might be able to snag an empty seat at the very last minute.
Some airlines, such as American Airlines, may allow you to standby for a later flight at no additional cost. Some, like JetBlue, may have a flat rate for their services.
Switch to a more affordable airline
No one wants their vacation to get off to a bad start because they missed airplane. You’re not standing atop a mountain, admiring the view; rather, you’re under a mountain of pressure. If the airline doesn’t believe your explanation for missing your flight, you may be out of luck, at least with them.
If the airline refuses to rebook you on the next available flight, you may have to make the arrangements yourself. If you can’t stand to wait any longer, maybe you should just buy a new ticket. When compared to the cost of flying standby, a new flight with a low-cost carrier is a steal.
There will inevitably be some level of discomfort involved. As seasoned travellers, however, we can say without hesitation that enduring a few hours of discomfort on a flight today is preferable to leaving two days later or cancelling your trip altogether. Those of us who have missed airplanes in the past and will miss them in the future can take heart in the fact that many low-cost airlines, such as Spirit and Frontier, offer last-minute discounts on inexpensive one-way tickets. It’s possible to save money by purchasing your ticket at the airport.
If you miss your first flight, most airlines will automatically cancel your return trip. If you missed airplane but still want to use the rest of your booking, you must contact the original airline to let them know.
Change your route to get where you’re going
When planning a vacation, it helps to think outside the box. When searching for a flight, it’s important to consider all of your options, including those that may seem less ideal at first. And let’s not forget that even though air travel is the quickest, that’s only considering the time you spend in the air. When you add up the time until your next flight and any layovers, you may decide that hitting the road is the best option.
If you want to maximise your vacation time, consider renting a car or taking the bus instead of walking or taking public transportation.
To Go Back in Time
It may be costly to rebook a flight for the same day as a missed airplane. Instead, if you can delay your trip by a day or two, you can save money by making reservations for then. Get to the airport early to guarantee a timely departure.
- You definitely don’t want to make the same mistake twice and missed airplane.
- The airline totally has my back for missing my flight. I’m Lost; Help!
Obviously, no one plans on being late for their flight. If you must missed airplane, it is preferable that the airline’s error caused your delay rather than your own. No matter the cause of cancellations or delays (bad weather, lack of employees, etc.), the end result is usually the same.
So, if an airline delays you, and you miss your connecting flight, here’s what to do.
Talk to a Rep Right Away!
Having the ability to foresee impending trouble through psychic means would be extremely useful in this situation. But if that’s not possible, the first thing you should do is contact an airline agent. The sooner you contact a representative, the sooner you can figure out what to do. If you wait, you might join a long queue of people who are in the same boat as you and have much fewer choices available to them.
The airline agent will be able to confirm your seat on the next flight, move you to the head of the standby waitlist, etc., as well as confirm the status of your flight and what else they can do. And keep in mind that a smile can go a long way towards securing the optimal outcome for your situation.
Make an Attempt at a Web-Based Flight Change for missed airplane
There was a time when the only way to get help was to stand in a long queue to talk to a gate agent. Now that nearly everyone always has a miniaturised supercomputer at the ready, decisions can be made with the touch of a button. If your flight is cancelled or delayed and you miss your connection, you can start looking into alternative flights on the airline’s website or mobile app.
You could try contacting a global call centre
In the event of widespread flight disruptions, you may have to compete with a large number of other passengers to reach the airline’s customer service line. Calling the airline’s international call centre may be the best way to avoid listening to the same hold song over and over again.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the international number is only useful in the event of a domestic flight cancellation, but you should know better. The hope is that you can get through quickly and get the assistance you need because international call centres won’t have the same issues that local agents do.
See What Perks Your Credit Card Offers for missed airplane
The insurance that comes with your credit card when you travel could be the difference between life and death. If you’re prepared with a good travel card, you won’t have to worry about losing out on any valuable perks if unexpected events cause you to missed airplane. Coverage for rental cars, trip delays, trip cancellations, and even medical emergencies are all possible through credit card travel insurance.
Before chatting with an airline rep, calling your card issuer can let you know what choices you have. Let’s say your return flight is suddenly cancelled and the next available flight isn’t until the following day. You can use your card to pay for things like food, lodging, and transportation while you wait for your rescheduled flight.
Next Vacation won’t help you catch your flight, but it will help you save money
When you missed airplane, it can feel like the end of the world. You feel like it’s a waste of time and money when you missed airplane after spending so much time planning your trip and searching for the best flight deal. Next Vacation can’t enchant you into a new flight, though. However, it can alleviate some of the frustration associated with losing valuable resources. Saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your next vacation is as easy as signing up for the Next Vacay newsletter. Not to mention all the time wasted looking for cheap flights online. Next Vacay takes care of everything, so all you have to do is book.
You can also add your trip information to your account and use it to book future deals. That way, you won’t have to worry as much about forgetting about your flight. Next Vacay allows you to fly without worrying about missing your flight.
