What happens if you miss your flight?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, or someone who’s just about to go on your first trip, there’s one thing you’ve probably thought about the second you got your plane tickets:

What happens if you miss your flight?

Missing flights is an absolute nightmare. There are so many uncertainties involved with the entire thing, and one missed flight has the power to ruin your entire trip. 

And that could mean thousands of dollars lost. 

But that’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. 

In this post, we’re going to be doing a complete breakdown of what happens if you miss your flight, and what you need to do if you ever find yourself in that situation.

What exactly counts as a missed flight?

Generally, a missed flight is any flight that you don’t take, or are unable to take, due to circumstances beyond your control. This can include things like delayed flights or canceled flights that cause you to miss your connection and not make it in time for the next departure. 

If you were supposed to be on a plane and didn’t make it, you’ve missed your flight.

Common reasons you might miss your flight

Before we go any further let’s talk about some of the most common reasons you might end up missing your flight in the first place, and what you can do to avoid it. 

1. Traffic Congestion and Road Closures: If you’re driving to the airport and there’s heavy congestion or road closures, it can be difficult to get there in time for your flight. It’s integral that you leave your home a few hours before your flight time to ensure you don’t miss it!

2. Late Check-In: If you don’t arrive at the check-in counter well before the departure time, there’s a chance that you won’t be able to board your plane on time. This even applies if the plane hasn’t actually left yet because airlines close boarding early, much earlier than the actual departure time, and the flight may be overbooked. So if you’re not there when you’re supposed to be, you might not make it on the plane! So get there as early as possible! 

3. Poor Weather Conditions: Inclement weather can delay or cancel flights, which can cause you to miss your flight if it is scheduled before the affected plane arrives. This is a circumstance beyond an airline’s control, so you will likely not be penalized for missing your flight in these circumstances. It’s best to look up the general weather predictions near the day of your flight before the day of. That way, you can be prepared for a potential delay! 

4. Air Traffic Delays: If there are delays in air traffic due to high volume or air traffic control, this can cause your flight to be delayed and result in you missing your flight. 

5. Lost Documents: If you have misplaced important documents such as passports or visas, it can take time to replace them, and you could miss your flight during the process. It’s best to pack all the documents in a separate bag, so you don’t have to worry about making sure you’ve got everything on the actual day of travel! 

Now that the potential circumstances are out of the way, let’s talk about what you’d have to do if the unthinkable happens. 

What should you do if you miss your flight?

If you miss your flight, the first thing you should do is contact the airline to let them know what’s going on. 

Airlines have different policies when it comes to missed flights, so you’ll need to find out what their policy is and what they can do for you in terms of booking a new flight or getting a refund. 

It’s also important to know that many airlines will allow you to rebook another flight without any additional fees, as long as you contact them within a certain time frame. 

This would be extremely helpful if you know you’re not going to make it to the airport in time, and would really help figure out what to do before you get there! 

If you are not able to get a refund or rebook your flight through the airline, then it’s important to consider other options, like booking a completely new flight through a trusted website so you can avoid high prices and get the new ticket instantly! 

You could also look into alternative transportation or book a hotel room near the airport until the next available flight. 

Overall, if you miss your flight, it’s important to contact the airline as soon as possible and find out what options are available for you. You may be able to get a refund or rebook without any additional fees depending on the airline’s policy. If not, then you’ll need to consider alternative means of transportation or accommodation options.