Missing your plane flight can be a huge disaster.
You may end up stranded in a strange city, or even worse – stuck at the airport!
If this happens to you, don’t panic.
There are steps that you can take to try and rectify the situation.
This blog post will outline what to do if you miss your plane flight.
We’ll provide tips on what to do if you’re already at the airport, as well as what to do if you’re still at home.
Read on for information that could save your travel plans!
1. Missed Flight, Missed Rights?
If you miss a flight because you were late to the airport, you have no legal right to compensation.
Most airlines will label you as a “no-show” and keep your money since you missed the flight.
The carrier may cancel your return flight automatically.
If you contact the airline before your flight departs, you might be able to receive a partial refund depending on the type of ticket you have.
If you miss a flight to Europe, you may be entitled to additional compensation if the transportation of a passenger is delayed or canceled due to faulty or insufficient service provided by an airline, as well as rerouting or a return journey back to their point of origin at no extra charge, European consumer laws provide up to 600 euros.
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, the European consumer rule, you have rights if you miss your connection because of a delay or cancellation on an international flight traveling to Europe.
2. Call The Airline ASAP!
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If you missed your plane flight, the first thing you should do is call the airline.
Explain what happened and ask what their policy is for rebooking passengers.
Many airlines will allow you to rebook for no extra charge if there is still space on another flight. You can check availability on Google Flights.
If there isn’t any available space, the airline may put you on a waiting list for the next available flight. It’s called the “flat tire” rule. Make sure to know the flat tire rule of the airline you are booking with, in case you miss your flight.
If you’re still at home when you realize that you’ve missed your plane flight, don’t worry!
You can still take steps to try and salvage your travel plans.
You should first call the airline and ask what their policy is for rebooking passengers.
If there is space available on another flight, the airline may put you on that flight.
If not, they may put you on a waiting list.
3. Talk Respectfully With The Airline’s Manager
If you’re already at the airport and missed your flight, go to the airline’s counter and explain what happened.
I discovered that the airline staff at the counter usually don’t have the authority to make the important calls/decisions when it comes to missed flights, so I would advise you to request to speak with the manager/supervisor and explain your situation respectfully!
Most airlines will put you on the next available flight, free of charge.
However, if there are no open seats on that flight, they may put you on a waiting list for the next one.
4. Look & Book A Same-day Change
Another option is to try and book a ticket with another airline.
This can be tricky, as finding an open seat on short notice is not always possible.
However, if you’re able to find a seat, you may be able to get yourself out of your predicament without too much trouble.
Just remember that you will likely have to pay a change fee, as well as any difference in ticket prices.
5. Take A Deep Breath! Don’t Panic!
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If you miss your flight as a business traveler, take a deep breath and find the closest bar, order a drink and open your phone or laptop, surf the web, and look for another flight.
The deep breath is to relax, the drink is to force you to relax, and the use of electronics is doing something positive about your situation.
6. Flying Standby on the Next Flight
This option is what most airlines will offer when you miss your flight, but it’s not always a guarantee.
You may have to wait around at the airport for the next available seat on your airline of choice.
If you’re going standby, make sure that you check in with an agent and see what options are available before heading over to security or gate hold rooms!
However, if there are no seats available, you’ll have to wait for the next one!
And what happens if that flight takes off too?
Well, then what do you do? I’ve been in this situation before and learned a few things along the way.
The first thing I did was take out my phone and search for flights on Google Flights or KAYAK (these two tools are very helpful).
If none of these options work out, try looking at Facebook Marketplace for someone who is selling their ticket to see if it’s cheaper than what an airline would charge and any other online-based forums like Craigslist where people sell tickets.
7. If You’re Stranded In Another Country
If you find yourself stranded in a foreign country, the best thing to do is try and get in touch with your airline.
They may be able to put you on a flight back home or help you book a ticket on another airline.
However, they may not have any available flights, so your only option may be to stay in that country until a seat opens up.
In this case, it’s important to contact the nearest embassy or consulate for assistance.
They should be able to help you out with finding accommodation or food until you can either fly back home.
8. Use Your Credit Card Benefits!
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If you have a credit card that offers travel insurance, this is the time to use it!
Typically, travel insurance will cover expenses like rebooking fees, food, and accommodation if you miss your flight.
So make sure to call your credit card company and explain what happened so they can help you out with booking a new ticket or reimbursing you for some of the costs associated with missing your original flight.
9. The 3Es….of Prevention
Remember- It is popularly said that prevention is better than cure!
There are a few things that you can do to make sure that you don’t miss your plane flight- the 3Es of prevention.
Early Preps
A proactive step to avoiding a missed plane flight is by doing some early preps.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Making sure you have all of the required documents for international travel (passport, visas, etc.)
- Packing your suitcase and making a checklist before you leave for the airport of what you need to take with you, this is great so that you’re not rushing and that you have everything that you need and not forget anything.
- Triple-checking that everything on your packing list is accounted for in your suitcase!
- Bring a travel stroller to the airport if you’re flying with children. (If you’re traveling with little ones.)
- Check what time your flight departs from what city. Stay informed about the status of flights arriving or departing from airports all over the world with the help of Airport Information.
- Some flights leave early in the morning while others may not until later on, so be sure that you’re aware of what departure times are available for each airline and make sure they work best with your schedule before booking any reservations or purchasing tickets online!
- Leave extra time to get through security lines as well–it’s always better safe than sorry when it comes down to this type of thing!
- Make arrangements ahead of time in case something happens where you need last-minute assistance like canceling a reservation due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather conditions or illness/injury; having someone help out makes those
Early Check-in
Early check-in on the airline’s phone app at least 24 hours before boarding time or, at the very least, arriving at the airport on time is a preventive way to avoid missing your flight.
Most airlines would have you check-in at the latest 60 mins before your flight departure time.
United Airlines check-in times (source- United.com)
Air Canada check-in times (source- Aircanada.ca)
It is best advised to consider the online check-in option- most airlines leave that option available until 24 hours before the flight boarding time.
When you are not able to arrive at the airport on time, online check-in 24 hours before your boarding time might still get you past the boarding gate in certain situations because you only need to do the security checking.
However, even if you do everything “by the book” and still miss your plane flight, don’t panic! There are usually ways to work things out without too much trouble. Just remember the three Es:
- Engage with the airline staff in a respectful manner
- Explore all of your options
- Eliminate stress by drinking alcohol (only if necessary!) or staying calm 🙂
Early Arrivals
Arriving early at the airport is another way of preventing yourself from missing your plane flight.
Even if you’re not checking in until later, it’s always a good idea to give yourself some extra time in case something happens. That way, you won’t have to worry about running through the airport and being late for your flight.
If all of these options fail, don’t worry – there may still be hope left! The last resort would be to file a claim with the airline. This process usually takes a while, so make sure to start early! Airlines have up to six months to resolve a claim.
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Take The Lesson….in Good Faith!
I hope what I’ve shared above helps in your future travels! And if you do end up missing your plane flight, don’t worry too much about it- the most important thing is to learn from your experience, have fun and enjoy yourself.
Author Bio
Olu is a passionate entrepreneur who loves to blog about life-saving lifestyle habits, hacks, and travel. He lives in the Western part of Canada and he currently shuffles time between completing a Master of Business Administration degree education, Accounting professional practice, and Blogging on his website-frenzhub.com.
He has freelanced lifestyle write-ups and articles on many platforms since 2010.
