Missed Connection Flight Compensation: What Are Your Rights?

 You're standing at the departure gate, excited for the upcoming trip you've been planning for months, only to be met with the news that your flight has been delayed. Minutes later, you realise the real problem - the delay means you have now missed your connecting flight, leaving you stranded in the crowded terminal, scrambling for a solution. 

But there is a silver lining. What most passengers are not aware of is that a missed connection due to a flight delay may entitle you to compensation, depending on where you were flying and which rules apply. When it comes to flights within the UK and the EU, airlines can be held responsible when delays within their control cause you to miss your connecting flight. 

In this article, we will outline everything you need to know about missed connection flight compensation so you can get what you are owed.

Compensation for a missed connecting flight

Missed connection: European flights

Passengers travelling within Europe or with a European airline are protected under EU261/UK261, an aviation law that is in place to protect passenger rights. According to this regulation, if you miss a connecting flight and arrive at your final destination with a delay of 3 hours or more, you are entitled to compensation. This compensation is calculated by the length of the delay and the distance to your final destination. 

You may be eligible for missed connection compensation if:

• The missed connecting flight and the delayed flight were part of the same booking.
• The delay was not your fault.
• The delay to your arrival time was within the airline's control and not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

Below is an outline of situations when you may or may not be entitled to missed connection compensation. 

In addition to flight delays, it is worth noting that other reasons for missed connecting flights, such as denied boarding due to overbooking or flight cancellation, could also entitle you to compensation. This depends on the situation; however, if this happens and you have been rebooked by the airline, resulting in your flight arriving more than three hours later at its final destination, then this could qualify for compensation.

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Missed connection: International flights

If you are not flying with a European airline or within Europe, you may still be covered internationally under certain regulations. 

Here are some examples:

Canada (APPR Regulations)

Under Canada's APPR Regulations, airlines must rebook passengers and may owe compensation depending on the length of the delay and who was responsible for the delay.  

SHY

This Turkish aviation law states that passengers are protected in a similar way to that of the EU261/UK261. This means that passengers who miss their connecting flight could be eligible for compensation of up to €600 (£520), depending on the length of the delay and flight distance. 

ANAC

Under this Brazilian aviation law, passengers have a right to care depending on the length of the delay, whether it is a domestic or international flight in Brazil. 

Saudi Arabia’s GACA

Under this law, compensation and care rules apply if passengers experience a missed connection. 

How much compensation for a missed connecting flight? 

Compensation amounts vary depending on the length of the delay and flight distance. This is laid out simply in the table below. 

How much compensation can you get for delayed international flights?

Similar to the EU261/UK261 rule, if you are flying to international destinations, for example, Istanbul - Doha - Bangkok, you may still be able to claim compensation depending on the circumstances and reason for the delay that caused you to miss your connection. 

For example:

• Brazil (ANAC): Under ANAC, passengers are eligible for assistance after 1 hour, meals after 2 hours, accommodation for overnight delays, and possible compensation only in the case of denied boarding. 
• Saudi Arabia (GACA): Under GACA, passengers are entitled to fixed compensation amounts (from 50–150 SDR (€61 - €183 / £52 - £156) for delays to as much as 200% of the unused ticket value for denied boarding or downgrading). Plus the right to care, depending on the delay duration.
• Turkey (SHY): Compensation amounts under the SHY regulation are aligned closely with EU261 - up to €600 (£520).
• Canada: Passengers could receive compensation up to CA $1,000 (£534), depending on the delay length and airline size under APPR Canada.

5. Additional rights in case of a missed connection flight

Knowing your passenger rights is crucial when travelling, so you can claim what you are owed in the event of a disruption. This does not strictly mean compensation, but also the airline's duty to provide the right to care while you are experiencing the delay or cancellation. This is something many passengers are unaware of, so let us explain. 

Right to care

The right to care means that under certain circumstances (flight distance and length of delay), airlines must provide:

• Meals and refreshments
• Hotel accommodation
• Transport (if overnight stays are required)

Compensation for downgrading and upgrading

Additionally, when it comes to downgrading, i.e. you are put in a lower class than what you originally booked, you can claim compensation. The compensation amount depends on the price of your ticket and the flight distance. 

In the case of upgrading, the airline cannot charge you if they decide to seat you in a class higher than the one you initially booked. 

Refunds and rerouting

In the case of refunds, your ticket fare can be refunded, and if you had a connecting flight, the airline must provide you with a return flight to the departure airport as soon as possible. 

Refund examples:

• 30% of the ticket fare for flights that are 1,500 km or less
• 50% of the ticket fare for flights within ECAA that are more than 1,500 km (except flights between ECAA and French overseas departments), and all other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• 75% of the ticket fare for all other flights, including flights between ECAA and French overseas departments.

The airline must find a re-route option to your final destination that allows you to get there as soon as possible, even if that means using a codeshare or in some cases, another airline to get you there.

How to Claim Compensation for a Missed Connection Flight

Missed connections can be extremely frustrating, but luckily, claiming compensation doesn't have to be. Here are the steps you need to follow to claim your compensation with the help of SkyRefund. 

Step 1: Check your eligibility:

Do this by determining if your flight qualifies under EU261/2004 or UK261. Check if the airline was responsible for the delay which caused the missed connection, and make sure that your flights were under a single reservation to qualify.

Step 2: Gather your documents

Keep necessary documents to support your claim, including your boarding pass, booking confirmation email, any correspondence from the airline regarding the delay or rebooking, and any receipts to claim for additional expenses.

Step 3: Submit your claim

Go to SkyRefund and submit your claim as soon as possible. The process is quick and easy, since SkyRefund will handle everything, making it hassle-free. 

SkyRefund handles everything and aims to get you the compensation you deserve. But don't just take our word for it, one customer on Trustpilot “secured a very good refund” following a 24-hour delay, which led to a missed connecting flight, while another customer received a refund despite never hearing back from the airline at fault, thanks to the team at SkyRefund.

Tips in case of a missed connection flight

Below are some helpful tips in case of a missed connecting flight

• Keep all boarding passes and booking confirmations.
• It is advised to take photos of departure screens as proof of delays.
• Ask airline staff to confirm the reason for the delay in writing.
• Know your passenger rights, especially your right to care if you have a long time to wait.
• Check which type of ticket you have so you know which course of action to take. Multiple flights covered under a single ticket are eligible for compensation.
• Some Reddit users were rebooked on a different airline when there was no availability, so it's worth asking about this option if you are told otherwise. 

How Can SkyRefund Help?

With a 98% success rate, SkyRefund makes claiming flight compensation hassle-free, which is why it is trusted by over 1M passengers. 

With over 8 years of legal experience, we help passengers worldwide exercise their rights and claim the compensation they are entitled to. Sky Refund works on a no-win, no-fee basis, and our standard fee is 35% of the total compensation amount. 

To get started, you can use the flight compensation calculator. This makes it easy to see how much you could be entitled to without doing the hard maths, and once you have determined your eligibility, you can easily submit a claim and leave it in the hands of the Sky Refund team.

FAQs

What counts as a missed connection flight?

A missed connection happens when a delay from a previous flight causes you to miss your onward flight. These must be under the same single reservation to be eligible for compensation, since it is the airline's duty to ensure these flights are coordinated.

What happens if I miss a connecting flight?

If it’s the airline’s fault, you could be entitled to compensation of up to €600, an alternate flight and a refund for your food and drinks for the duration of your wait.

Do airlines know if you have a connecting flight?

Yes, if all flights are under one booking, but not if you have booked them separately.

Can I get compensation for a missed connection?

Yes, in many circumstances, you can claim up to €600. Check your eligibility using the flight compensation calculator. 

What happens if my plane is delayed and I have a connecting flight?

If you experienced a missed connecting flight due to a delay, you can get compensation depending on the length and cause of the delay. You can also be put on an alternative flight to get you to your final destination as soon as possible.

What happens if I miss my flight due to a short layover?

If the tickets were booked under one reservation, then this is still the airline's responsibility.

Do you need to go through security again for a connecting flight?

Usually, it is not required; however, it can depend on the airport and the country.