If I miss my flight what will happen?

If I miss my flight, what will happen? Discover what to do next, including rebooking options, potential fees, and how to contact your airline. Learn tips to avoid missing future flights and how to stay calm in this situation.

If I miss my flight what will happen?

If I miss my flight what will happen? Travelers can be divided into two categories: those who go to the airport several hours before their flight and those who barely make it. However, neither group is completely safe in terms of missing a flight. We try not to alarm people, but even habitual travelers can be prevented from reaching the closing airport gate by a tiny error in judgment or an unanticipated delay. Even with our greatest efforts, there are moments when our plane takes off without us.

Then, what occurs if you really do miss your flight? Fortunately, we have all the answers you need, so in the event of the worst, you’ll know exactly what to do and what to anticipate. Everything you should know is as follows:

What should you do if you think you’ll miss your flight?

As soon as you become aware that you might miss your trip, it is essential to give your airline a call. It will be easier for them to offer you alternatives and come up with a workable solution if you notify them in advance that you will be running behind schedule.

You can use your carrier’s app or ask the airline directly to assist you in reserving a replacement seat if you are certain that you will arrive at the airport too late. You can request to join the standby list with your airline if the next available flight is full.

It’s crucial to call beforehand if you have scheduled connections because if the airlines don’t know where you’ll be going, they can mark you as a “no show” and cancel your entire itinerary.

According to Francesca Vinchiaturo, Director, Airline Relations and Revenue Management EMEA at Internova Travel Group, “if you booked through a travel agent, it may be easier for you as you can notify them of your potential disruption and they will be able to handle your booking right up until the flight closes, and of course reschedule accordingly if you miss it.”

Is it okay to intentionally miss your flight?

You will lose your ticket price if you purposefully miss your flight—perhaps because you’re enjoying yourself too much on vacation or your work trip ends earlier than expected. The majority of airlines only impose an additional cost if they determine that the concerned passenger has a pattern of missing flights. This is a result of “skiplagging,” which is the practice of scheduling a flight with the intention of traveling but not really in order to obtain a lower fare for subsequent legs.

It’s ideal if you can call your airline and let them know you won’t be flying, even if there’s typically no price involved. This way, they can let any standby passengers know in advance. Notifying your airline could allow you to recoup a portion of your airfare if there are customers waiting for last-minute tickets.

Is there a fee if you miss your flight?

As previously mentioned, airlines have the right to add a discretionary surcharge to your ticket price. This fee is often added if you frequently miss flights. It’s a good idea to verify the policy in advance, as certain airlines impose an automatic cancellation cost.

You are unlikely to get a refund for missing a flight, even though there might not be an additional fee. However, some airlines will rebook an alternate ticket for free provided you have a valid cause for missing the first one. It’s important to note that in order to waive any further fees, they can request documentation of your delay.

Check your airline’s policy if you fear you might miss your journey because not all airlines provide reimbursements for missing flights under special circumstances.

According to Francesca, “some flexible fare types give you the ability to change up to a certain time frame and give you the option to pay a no-show fee along with a change fee.” “The best course of action would be to exchange the ticket before the flight departs in order to preserve its value.”

Do airlines automatically rebook you if you miss your flight?

Although it’s rare that an airline will rebook your ticket for you on demand, many of them will help you do it. If you have a valid reason for missing your first flight, airlines often attempt to get you onto the next available one, but this service may incur a discretionary price.

“Airlines may reschedule your flight if there are disturbances to usual operations, such as severe weather conditions,” suggests Fransesca. “In this case, they will offer you the option to reschedule within a specified criteria which you can select from.”

Can you get a refund if you miss your flight?

The majority of airlines don’t reimburse customers for missing flights, but it’s a good idea to verify your particular airline’s policy since some may in certain rare cases. If you miss your flight for medical reasons, some airlines do issue refunds; however, you will need to show confirmation of your condition.

According to Francesca, “it’s best practice to check the fare conditions when making your booking and prior to making any changes.” Doing so will help you avoid missing a flight and save time and worry.