If you miss a connection on a single ticket because your first flight was late, the airline must rebook you to your destination at no extra cost and often provide meals and a hotel. Under EU261 or UK261, you may also get €250–€600 (or £220–£520) compensation if you arrive 3+ hours late for reasons within the airline’s control. On separate tickets, the second airline usually owes you nothing.
You land, look at your watch, and realise the gate for your next flight has closed. Don’t panic. What you’re entitled to depends almost entirely on one question: was it all on one ticket?
Step 1: Work out if it’s one ticket or separate tickets
| One ticket (protected) | Separate tickets (self-transfer) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rebooking | Airline must rebook you for free | Usually you buy a new ticket |
| Meals & hotel | Usually provided during long waits | Your own cost |
| Checked bags | Transferred automatically | You collect and re-check them |
| EU261 / UK261 compensation | Possible, based on final arrival | Usually only for the delayed flight itself |
If you booked one itinerary with one booking reference and your bags were checked through, you’re almost certainly on one ticket.
Step 2: What to do right away (one ticket)
- Go to the transfer desk, or use the airline app, which is often faster than queuing.
- Ask to be rebooked on the next flight, including on partner airlines if that’s faster.
- Ask about meal vouchers and a hotel if the wait is long or overnight.
- Keep everything: boarding passes, receipts and a screenshot of the delay.
- Check your visa situation. If an overnight hotel is landside, you may need entry permission. At airports like Heathrow, there’s no airside hotel at all.
Step 3: Claim compensation (if eligible)
Under EU Regulation 261/2004 (and the UK’s version, UK261), you may be owed fixed compensation if you reach your final destination 3+ hours late because of something within the airline’s control (technical faults, crew problems, late inbound aircraft).
| Flight distance | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 |
Who’s covered: flights departing from the EU/UK on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU/UK on an EU/UK airline.
Not covered: “extraordinary circumstances” such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes or security threats. Rebooking and care still apply.
You can claim directly with the airline (free), or use a claims service that takes a percentage.
What if it was separate tickets?
This is the risky scenario. Your second airline sees you as a no-show. Options:
- Ask anyway. Some airlines show goodwill, especially when it’s the same airline group.
- Check your booking site’s guarantee. Some agencies sell “self-transfer protection”.
- Check your travel insurance. Many policies cover missed connections caused by delays.
- Contact the first airline if its delay caused the miss. Compensation may apply to the delayed flight itself.
Read more: Self-transfer flights: risks and how to do them safely.
How to avoid missing connections
- Book connections with a realistic buffer. See how long a layover should be.
- Prefer one ticket over cheaper separate tickets for tight connections.
- Avoid the last flight of the day as your onward connection.
- Buy travel insurance that covers missed connections.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Compensation rules differ outside the EU and UK (for example under Canada’s APPR or US DOT policies).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for a new flight if I miss my connection?
Not if both flights are on the same ticket and you missed the connection because of the airline. The airline must rebook you for free. On separate tickets, you may have to buy a new ticket unless you have self-transfer protection.
How much compensation do I get for a missed connection under EU261?
If you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late, compensation is €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights (can be reduced by 50% if rerouting limited the delay). It only applies when the cause is within the airline’s control.
Does EU261 cover my connecting flight?
EU261 covers flights departing from an EU airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline. For connections on one booking, the journey is judged as a whole based on arrival delay at the final destination.
What if I miss my connection because of bad weather?
You still have the right to rebooking and care (meals, hotel) on one ticket, but not to cash compensation, because weather is usually an extraordinary circumstance.