Anyone who has ever been stuck in horrendous traffic on the way to the airport knows that sweaty-palmed, frantic fear-of-missing-a-flight feeling.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just don't make it.
To find out exactly what happens if you miss your flight —specifically if it's your fault, as a variety of options including automatic rebooking, free overnight accommodations, or meal vouchers may be available in certain cases if the reason you've missed your flight is the fault of the airline — we reached out to experts in the industry, including a veteran flight attendant and airline representatives. After all, knowing what to do in advance can help a stressful situation seem just a tiny bit less like a travel nightmare.
How to Make Sure Your Canceled Flight Is Eligible for a Refund, According to Travel Experts
What should you do if you think you'll miss your flight?
Travelers who are concerned they're not going to make their flight should immediately alert the airline.
"If someone knows they will be missing the flight prior to departure, it's good policy (and manners) for that passenger to notify the airline," flight attendant Kelly Kincaid told Travel + Leisure. "Most flights nowadays have standby passengers awaiting that precious open seat."
Giving the airline enough notice also improves your chances of being rebooked on the next available flight, space permitting.
And just because you're late doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. Checking in online in advance and traveling light (carry-on only) can improve your chances of catching a flight even when you're under the wire. After all, gates for certain flights may stay open 10 to 15 minutes before departure. In other words, be prepared to sprint.
What if you still can't catch your flight?
Depending on the airline, travelers may be charged a rebooking fee to get on another flight. Some airlines may also charge the difference in airfare — meaning a missed flight can be a costly inconvenience.
JetBlue, for one, will try to waive the difference in airfare on confirmed travel (and charge only the applicable change fee) when they're able to rebook travelers on a later departure.
Southwest, on the other hand, never charges change fees — but travelers may have to shoulder the fare difference.
If you arrive at the airport after your flight has closed or departed, take a minute to assess the flight schedule board. Look for later trips with the same airline, which can help you avoid having to pay additional fees or forfeit your entire remaining itinerary, then present these options to a gate or check-in agent, which will help expedite the process.
Can you get a refund if you miss your flight?
No. But you can, on rare and serendipitous occasions, avoid penalties for your tardiness.
"There's something called a 'flat tire rule,'" Kincaid explained to T+L, noting that not all airlines have this.
"Basically, the rule can be used to only charge the same day confirmed [or] standby fee, instead of a change fee and change of fare fee, if the passenger states they were late due to a flat tire, accident, or something similar."
In the same way that airlines avoid compensating passengers for weather-related cancellations, travelers also have some recourse when they are late for reasons beyond their control — such as, well, having a flat tire.
While this policy is rarely publicized on airline websites, The Points Guy noted that some domestic carriers, including American Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest (and sometimes Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, depending on the case), will accommodate travelers who arrive within two hours of their original departure time, without making them pay a fee or swallow fare increases.
What happens to your luggage if you miss your flight?
In the event that you missed a connection or got held up in security and your checked luggage has gone ahead without you, immediately track down an airline representative. The carrier may be able to track your bags and hold them for you until your arrival.
What happens if you miss your flight on purpose?
While it may come as a surprise to incredibly conscientious travelers who typically arrive at the airport three hours prior to their scheduled departure time, some travelers do in fact miss flights on purpose.
Though not common, this can be done as a way to score cheap flights. Deal hunters, for example, may find that it's more affordable to book a flight with a connection through the place they want to go, rather than a flight directly to their desired destination. The traveler will then hop off at the layover city and skip the remaining leg of their itinerary.
When travelers miss flights and do not notify the airline, the rest of the itinerary is almost always canceled. That means if you are trying to get a flight deal by gaming the system, you might find yourself stranded or without a return trip home. Frequent flyers will not receive airline miles for trips booked and skipped, and certain offenders may even find themselves banned from flying with that carrier as a result.
That said, some airlines still have relaxed cancellation policies when it comes to missing your flight due to Covid-19. Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, United, and Delta, for instance, don't charge extra fees to change or cancel your flight in this case, with the exception of basic economy-level fares. If you start to feel under the weather before your trip, cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before its scheduled departure time to avoid disappointment.
