The single-ticket rule
EU261 protects a passenger on a journey that was booked under a single contract of carriage. That is normally one booking reference covering the whole trip, even where two different airlines operate the legs under a codeshare or alliance arrangement.
Where that condition is met, the delay is assessed at your final destination. A 45-minute delay on the short first leg that causes you to miss a long-haul connection can produce a substantial arrival delay — and therefore a substantial claim — even though no single flight was dramatically late.
- One booking referenceProtected. Delay measured at the final destination.
- Codeshare or allianceStill one contract. The operating carrier of the delayed leg is usually the responsible party.
- Two separate ticketsGenerally not protected as a single journey. Each ticket is assessed on its own leg.
- Self-transfer productDepends on the terms sold. Some are explicitly not protected; check what you bought.
How the delay is measured
The clock stops when the aircraft arrives at the gate at your final destination, not when it touches down. Compare that with the scheduled arrival time on your original itinerary — the one you booked, not the one the airline later issued.
Keep the original itinerary
Airlines sometimes reissue tickets with new times after a schedule change. The comparison should be against your original booked arrival time. Save the confirmation email you received at the time of booking.
What the airline must do at the airport
Whatever the cause, a missed connection triggers assistance obligations while you wait for a replacement flight.
- Meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait.
- Two calls, emails or messages at the airline's cost.
- Hotel accommodation and transfers if you are stranded overnight.
- Rerouting at the earliest opportunity, or at your convenience, at no extra cost.
If the airline provides nothing and you pay for a hotel yourself, keep the receipt. Reasonable costs are normally recoverable.
When you bought separate tickets
This is the most common disappointment, and it is worth being direct about it. If you assembled the journey yourself to save money, the airline that operated the delayed first leg is assessed on that leg alone. If that leg arrived less than three hours late, there is typically no compensation, even though your onward flight was lost.
The second airline sold you a seat on a flight you did not board. It did not delay you, and it generally has no obligation to rebook you free of charge. Some airlines will help as a goodwill gesture; many will sell you a new ticket.
Travel insurance, not passenger rights
For a self-built itinerary, your realistic route to recovery is travel insurance that covers missed departures, or a flexible ticket. Check the policy wording before you rely on it.
What to do when you miss a connection
- Go to the airline's transfer desk before leaving the airport. Get the rebooking in writing, or at least by email.
- Ask why the first leg was delayed. Note the reason given — it determines whether extraordinary circumstances can be argued.
- Keep both boarding passes and the original booking confirmation.
- Record your actual arrival time at the final destination, including the gate arrival.
- Claim once, clearly. State the single booking reference, both flight numbers, the original scheduled arrival and the actual arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Does it matter if the missed flight was with a different airline?
Not if it was one booking. A journey sold by one airline and operated by partner carriers is still a single contract, and the operating carrier of the delayed leg is generally responsible.
What if I was rebooked and arrived only two hours late?
Compensation is generally not payable once your arrival delay falls under three hours after rerouting. The rebooking itself must still be free, and care obligations still apply.
Can I claim if I missed the connection through my own fault?
No. If you missed the connection because you arrived late at the gate, took too long in transit, or left the airport, the delay is not attributable to the airline.