Travel help

I missed my flight. What happens next?

Missing a flight happens to plenty of people, and airlines deal with it every day. The most useful thing you can do is contact the airline straight away, before the flight leaves if you can, and not simply skip it, because that can cancel the rest of your trip.

5 official sources, listed at the end Checked October 25, 2026
Photo: Matthew Smith whale, CC0
In this article · 5 sections
  1. The short answer
  2. If you're running late, or you've just missed it
  3. Missed connection: a different situation
  4. Next time: a little more buffer
  5. Keep reading

The short answer

Take a breath. Missing a flight is common, and airlines have routines for it. What matters now is speed and honesty: contact the airline as soon as you know, ideally before the flight leaves.

If you're running late, or you've just missed it

  1. Contact the airline right away. Use its app, the airport counter, or its official phone line (see the airline contact directory). The earlier you call, the more options there usually are.
  2. Ask what your ticket allows. Fare rules differ. Many tickets can be changed, sometimes for a fee or fare difference; some low fares are stricter. An agent can tell you what applies to yours.
  3. Ask about standby or a later flight the same day.
  4. Don't just skip it. DOT's consumer guide warns that if you don't use a reservation and don't notify the airline, it will cancel all your onward or return reservations on the trip.1 A quick message saves the rest of your journey.

Missed connection: a different situation

If your first flight was late and you missed a connection on the same ticket, that's the airline's job to sort out. Normally it rebooks you on the next available flight, and the app often does this automatically.

  • Check the app or the transfer desk before joining a long line.
  • Ask about meals or a hotel if the delay was within the airline's control. Many large US airlines publish commitments in their customer service plans and on DOT's dashboard.2
  • If the new option is a big change, for example arriving 3+ hours later on a domestic trip, and you decide not to travel, DOT's refund rules may apply.3 See flight cancelled for how that works.

If your flights are on separate tickets, the second airline may treat you as a no-show. Contact it as soon as you know you'll be late.

Next time: a little more buffer

  • Check your airline's check-in and bag deadlines ahead of time. DOT notes they vary by airline.1 Our check-in guide explains them.
  • Look at security wait times. TSA's MyTSA app shares checkpoint information.5
  • Leave time for the unexpected: traffic, parking, a long line. DOT's guide suggests assuming the roads are backed up and the lines are long.1

The calm takeaway: a missed flight is a scheduling problem, and airlines solve scheduling problems all day. Contact them quickly, ask what your ticket allows, and don't simply no-show.

Keep reading

Quick answers

What should I do if I'm going to miss my flight?

Contact your airline as soon as you know, ideally before departure, through its app, website, phone line or airport counter. Ask what options your fare allows.

What happens if I don't show up for my flight?

DOT's consumer guide warns that if you hold a reservation you won't use and don't tell the airline, it will cancel all onward or return reservations on your trip. Tell the airline instead.

What if I miss a connection because my first flight was late?

If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will normally rebook you on a later flight. Go to the airline's app or transfer desk. If the delay was within the airline's control, check its commitments on the DOT dashboard.

Sources

(5)
  1. U.S. DOT, Fly-Rights: A Consumer Guide to Air Travel
  2. U.S. DOT, Airline customer service plans
  3. U.S. DOT, Refunds
  4. TSA, Security screening
  5. TSA, MyTSA app

Facts last checked against these sources: October 25, 2026.