Missed Connection Flight compensation
Missing a connecting flight is a major setback for any traveller. However, if you were travelling to or from Europe, or if you had a flying connection in Europe, EU rule EC 261 may protect you. It gives you the option of claiming up to €600 ($700) in compensation for any missed flight that causes you to be late for your final destination.
Learn more about your EU air passenger rights and how to file a claim for compensation if you miss a flight connection.
A free check to see if you are entitled for compensation takes only 2 minutes.
What are the rights of passengers in the event of a missed connection?
A missed connection occurs when a passenger misses one or more flights during a journey due to the cancellation or delay of one or more previous flights.
There are many causes for a flight delay or cancellation, but if the passenger is not at fault, he or she is entitled to missed connection compensation of €600 ($700).
Your vacation plans can be severely disrupted if you miss a connecting flight. Stress and frustration are understandably high in this situation.
Fortunately, various regulations protect your air passenger rights, allowing you to seek compensation for a missed connection. Also, keep in mind that there are steps you may take to increase your chances of maintaining your connection.
Make sure you allow adequate time between flights, especially if you'll be passing through customs and immigration. If booking two separate flights on different airlines is less expensive than buying a single ticket, allow extra time for the connection.
What can cause a missed connection?
The majority of the time, flights are cancelled or delayed due to extraordinary circumstances, or events beyond the airline's control, such as:
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A bolt of lightning strikes.
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There are medical emergencies.
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Strikes by airport employees or air traffic controllers
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weather circumstances that are not favourable
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Restrictions on air traffic control
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The airport radar has suddenly stopped working.
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acts of sabotage.
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Unrest in politics.
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acts of terrorism, etc.
Because the clauses in Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 regarding unusual circumstances are unclear and ambiguous, airlines are increasingly using mechanical issues as a justification for refusing to pay compensation.
Minor technical issues, on the other hand, are no longer recognized valid reasons for avoiding paying compensation, particularly in recent years.
You may potentially miss a connecting flight due to circumstances beyond your control, in which case the airline will not compensate you. The airline will rebook you on a different flight, but you may be charged a change fee as well as any fare difference.
It's vital to keep in mind that airlines rarely accept responsibility for missed connections on separate tickets. If you book two separate flights with two different airlines and one of them is cancelled or delayed, the other airline will not compensate you.
If you miss your connecting flight, what options do you have?
First and foremost, inquire as to the cause of the delay with the staff or crew, and make a note of it. Keep all of your travel documentation safe, including your boarding pass and electronic ticket. Keep any evidence that shows you've suffered additional losses or costs, such as pre-paid reservations, hotel, or transportation.
Your initial step should be to request a rebooking from your airline. If you missed your connection owing to the airline's error, you should be rebooked for free; otherwise, you may be charged.
If there is a long line, skip it and instead phone the airline. If they can't locate you a replacement flight, book one yourself and save the receipt. The airline is bound to provide you with a refund.
Passengers are entitled to compensation if the airline fails to provide an alternative flight or if an alternate flight is offered but does not meet the passenger's needs. The airline is bound to provide you with a complimentary replacement flight.
What qualifies you for compensation in the event of a missed connection?
The bottom line is that the missed connection must be the airline's fault in order to be entitled to compensation under EU rules. As a result, you may be eligible for reimbursement if:
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Because of a minor technical issue with the aircraft, your first flight was delayed.
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The total time it takes you to arrive at your final destination airport is 3 hours or more late (through no fault of your own).
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Your initial flight was delayed for reasons that the airline did not reveal: if they do not provide you with an explanation for the delay, it is likely that the delay is their fault.
If any of the following apply to you, you are not entitled for compensation:
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Due to air traffic limitations, your initial flight was delayed, and you missed your connecting connection.
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The pilots' eyesight was reduced by strong rainstorms, so your initial flight was delayed.
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You were unable to board your connecting aircraft because you lacked the required documentation.
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You did not arrive at the gates in a timely manner.
It's worth noting that your tickets must be on the same reservation to be eligible for compensation under EU rules. As a result, if your ticket covers both legs of your journey, it is treated as a single ticket.
When two or more flights are booked as a single unit, they are treated as a single entity for the purposes of passenger compensation.
Missed connection compensation is available to the following sorts of travellers or ticket types:
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Offers on vacation packages
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Paid tickets for children
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Traveling for business
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Low-cost Airlines
You are entitled to compensation for a missed connecting flight if you missed a connection or were delayed for less than 3 hours at any point throughout your journey, resulting in an overall arrival delay of 3 hours or more at your final destination airport.
To be covered by EU regulations, your journey must:
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departing from a European Union airport and operated by any airline.
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arrive at a European Union airport and are transported by a European Union airline.
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You will be delayed for more than three hours when you arrive at your final destination.
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(EU airports include those in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland under this regulation.)
Missed Connection Compensation in Europe
The amount of compensation is determined by the flight distance and delay time under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. There are three different kinds of flights:
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Short-haul flights (the distance of the missed connection flight less than 1,500km)
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Medium-haul flights (the distance of the missed connection flight 1,500 – 3,500km)
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Long-haul flights (the distance of the missed connection flight over 3,500km)
As a result, you are entitled to compensation under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours at the airport of departure or arrival or at the airport of final destination (in the case of indirect flights).
Passengers are entitled to additional services in addition to flight compensation, such as:
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free meals and refreshments, as well as two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails; and
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free hotel accommodation and transportation between the airport and the place of shelter - when the airline reasonably expects the actual departure time to be at least one day later than the originally scheduled departure time; and
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reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket or a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity - when the delay is at least 5 hours.
For trips with multiple legs, the focus is on the delayed arrival at the very last destination of the entire itinerary booked under the same booking reference, rather than the destination at the place of origin.
In the event of a cancellation (or a delay of fewer than 4 hours for long-distance flights over 3500 km), your compensation may be half, based on how much time you would be delayed in reaching your final destination on an alternate flight (compared to your originally booked flight).
Missed Connection Compensation in United States
Unlike the EU, the United States has no specific laws for passenger protection in the event of flight problems. Because there are no federal rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations, if you miss your connecting flight due to a delay or cancellation, it is up to the airline whether or not to compensate you.
If your flight is delayed for an extended period of time, ask airline workers if they will pay for meals or a hotel stay, according to the US Department of Transportation. However, keep in mind that they may decline to provide these services.
Some airlines prefer to compensate passengers with travel vouchers, mileage flights, and loyalty club upgrades in order to compensate for delayed flights, but most of the time, they will just offer you another ticket, which is not necessarily free.
If your travel includes a stop in an EU country, however, you may be eligible for reimbursement under EU Regulation No. 261/2004.
missed connection compensation in Israel
You have a right to care and even compensation if your trip to or from Israel is delayed, according to Israel's flight compensation legislation.
You have the right to claim compensation for a missed connection in Israel if your flight is delayed for more than two (2) hours.
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Receive meals and beverages in proportion to the length of the wait
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as well as two phone calls, fax or email access, and cost refund if necessary.
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In the event of lengthier delays, you will be provided with complimentary hotel and a cab to take you to and from the airport.
In addition to the perks listed above, if your flight is delayed for more than five (5) hours but less than eight (8) hours, you are entitled to:
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Reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket within 21 days for any portion of the trip that has not been completed, as well as those portions that have been completed but are no longer relevant to the original journey plan. You will also be offered, if applicable, a return flight to your original point of departure on the nearest airline flight; or
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an alternative flight that will be operated under similar conditions to the flight you originally booked, which means it must get you to your destination as soon as possible. If you are given a flight to a location other than the one originally arranged, the airline will cover the cost of transportation to the original destination.
If your flight is delayed for more than eight (8) hours, you are entitled to the following:
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Compensation for a missed flight, up to the maximum limit imposed by the Israeli Ministry of Transport, is provided within 45 days after the request for reimbursement. The amount of compensation is determined by the flight's distance. Compensation ranges from 1250 NIS ($ 356) to 3000 NIS ($ 853).
missed connection compensation in Turkey
You have the right to compensation if you miss a connecting flight to or from Turkey. Passengers can recover 100 euros from the airline if their domestic flight is delayed.
In the case of foreign flights, the passenger is entitled to compensation in the amount of:
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For all flights of 1500 kilometres or less, the equivalent in Turkish Lira is 250 Euros.
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For all flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres, the equivalent in Turkish Lira is 400 Euros.
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For any flights beyond 3500 kilometres, the equivalent in Turkish Lira is 600 Euros.
How to claim missed connection compensation?
The first thing you should do before filing a complaint about a missed connection is to determine the cause of the delay. Knowing why there was a delay could help you get compensated.
Get a thorough receipt for everything if you think you'll need to claim charges from your airline. Then file a claim with ClaimCompass, and they'll handle everything else.
They're here to assist you to receive up to €600 in compensation while also saving you a lot of time. Claiming compensation involves negotiating a complex and bureaucratic legal system, and doing it on your own reduces your chances of success.
Airlines may initially dismiss or disregard your claim request, but the ClaimCompass staff is ready to overcome any bureaucratic obstacles in order to obtain you the money you deserve.