Missed connection:your rights and compensation
Was your first flight delayed, causing you to miss the next one? If the entire journey was booked under one reservation, the airline should reroute you to your final destination. You may also qualify for €250 to €600 per passenger.
Possible compensation€250–€600
Can you claim compensation for a missed connection?
Possibly, when your journey was protected by a single reservation. EU passenger rules must apply, you must reach the final destination at least three hours late, and the disruption must not be caused by exempting extraordinary circumstances.
Three essential checks
- Were all flights issued under one reservation?
- How late did you reach the final destination?
- What caused the initial delay or disruption?
A long security queue or arriving late at the boarding gate through your own actions does not normally qualify for missed-connection compensation.
The four main conditions
Single reservation
The flight segments were bought together as one journey.
Covered itinerary
The departure, arrival and operating airline meet the scope of EU passenger rules.
Sufficient final delay
You reach the last destination at least three hours late.
Compensable cause
The airline cannot establish unavoidable extraordinary circumstances.
Time lost at the connecting airport is not the only test: delay at the last destination on your ticket is what matters.
One reservation or separate tickets?
Your level of protection changes significantly depending on how the journey was booked.
Single reservation
The airline must arrange onward travel to the final destination. The overall delay may qualify for compensation.
Separate tickets
The second airline is generally not responsible when a separate first ticket makes you miss its flight.
Different airlines
Different carriers can still appear on one protected reservation. Keep the full ticket and booking reference.
Look for one booking reference, a ticket covering all segments and an itinerary issued as a single transaction.
How much could you receive?
The amount is based on the distance of the covered journey to the final destination, not the price paid for the ticket.
Per eligible passenger.
Per eligible passenger.
A reduction may apply after certain rerouting arrangements.
What the airline should arrange
Even while compensation is being assessed, the airline must deal with the protected journey and provide reasonable care during the wait.
Rerouting
A replacement journey to the final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Food and drinks
Reasonable care based on the length of the wait.
Hotel and transfer
Accommodation and necessary transport when departure is moved to the next day.
Communications
The opportunity to make two communications while waiting.
If care is not provided, keep itemised receipts for necessary and reasonable expenses.
What should you do immediately?
Go to the airline desk
Ask for written rerouting to your final destination.
Ask for the cause
Request the reason for the first flight’s delay.
Photograph the information
Keep departure boards, times and messages received.
Keep expense receipts
Save receipts for necessary food, hotel and transport.
Documents to keep
Do not accept a refund too quickly if you still need to reach the destination. Ask what rerouting options are available first.
How do you request compensation?
Collect the full itinerary
Include the booking covering every segment.
Calculate the final delay
Compare scheduled and actual arrival at the last destination.
Document the cause
Keep the airline’s explanations and notifications.
Submit the claim
Provide flight details, evidence and relevant expenses.
Explore your specific situation
Open the page that most closely matches your journey or the original disruption.
Missed connection: complete guide
Detailed conditions, examples and evidence.
→Airline pageMissed connection with Lufthansa
Guidance for Lufthansa passengers.
→Main pageDelayed flight
Your rights when the first flight is delayed.
→Main pageCancelled flight
Refund, rerouting and compensation.
→Your rightsPassenger rights
A clear overview of EU passenger protection.
→Missed connection FAQ
How late must I be to qualify for compensation?+
You must generally reach the final destination at least three hours late, subject to the other eligibility conditions.
Must the flights be on one reservation?+
Yes. Connection protection normally requires the different flight segments to form one reservation.
Can I claim when different airlines operated the flights?+
Potentially. Different carriers may operate flights on the same ticket. The full reservation and scope of EU rules must be assessed.
What if I bought the tickets separately?+
Protection is generally limited. The airline on the second ticket is normally not responsible for a delay affecting the separate first journey.
Must the airline pay for a hotel?+
When protected rerouting requires an overnight wait, necessary accommodation and transfers should normally be provided.
Can I claim after a technical fault?+
An ordinary technical fault may qualify depending on the circumstances. The exact cause and the measures taken by the airline must be checked.
Did you miss your connection?
Check your booking and estimate the compensation you may be able to claim.
No upfront fee. A commission applies only if your claim succeeds.