One booking or two tickets
| Your booking | What it means |
|---|---|
| One booking, one ticket, with a connection | The airline must rebook you on the next available flight and give you care. If you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late, you may be owed EUR 250 to 600, measured at the final destination. |
| Separate tickets, even on the same airline | The airline is generally not responsible for the connection. It does not have to rebook you or pay for the new ticket. |
| Two airlines on one booking | You are protected as on one booking. Claim from the airline that operated the flight that caused the problem and copy the other airline. |
What to do at the airport right now
- Go straight to the transfer desk or the airline's service desk. Do not leave the airport first.
- Ask to be rebooked on the first available flight, including other airlines if your airline has no seat.
- Ask for meals and a hotel if you must wait overnight, and keep every receipt.
- Ask for a written note or stamp that says why you missed the connection and the delay time.
- Write down your real arrival time at the final destination.
- Check whether the new route needs a transit visa or an arrival card, especially if you change airport. See Schengen visa documents checklist and the arrival card guides.
Compensation for a missed connection
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | EUR 250 |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km | EUR 400 |
| Over 3,500 km | EUR 600 |
The distance band is based on your whole journey from the first departure to the final destination, not on the single flight you missed. Compensation is not due if extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather caused the delay, but care and rebooking still are.
Problems and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| The airline says you were late at the gate | Check the connection time and your boarding pass. If your first flight arrived late and you were on one booking, the airline is responsible. |
| You were on separate tickets | Buy a new ticket as cheaply as you can and keep the receipt. If the first flight itself arrived 3 or more hours late, you may still claim compensation for that flight. |
| Border or immigration queues made you late | The airline is usually not responsible when you are held up by immigration, so allow enough connection time. |
| The airline offers a voucher only | You can ask for a cash refund or rerouting instead. |
| You were left with no hotel | Book a reasonable hotel, keep the receipt and claim the cost back in writing. |
How to avoid missing a connection
- Book one ticket for the whole journey, not two separate tickets.
- Leave at least 2 to 3 hours for international connections, longer if you must collect baggage or change terminal.
- Check the transit rules for the connecting country before you book.
- Keep your documents and a copy of your booking ready. Use the Safar Ready Check for a document checklist.
General information only
This guide is information, not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the airline, the national enforcement body or a qualified lawyer before you act. ArrivalCardGuide does not file claims and takes no share of any money you recover.
Questions and answers
If my first flight was only 1 hour late, can I claim?
Compensation depends on the delay at your final destination. If a rebooked flight gets you there 3 or more hours late you may qualify, otherwise you are still owed rebooking and care.
Is the airline responsible if I booked each flight separately?
Generally no. The airline is not obliged to rebook you or pay for the new ticket. Always book a single ticket when you can.
Who pays for my hotel when I miss a connection?
If you were on one booking and the problem came from the airline, the airline must provide the hotel and transport. Keep all receipts.
How do I claim?
Send a written claim to the operating airline with proof of your booking and your real arrival time. The free complaint letter generator helps you write it.
Sources
- Your Europe: Air passenger rights
- EU Regulation 261/2004 (official text)
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: delays and cancellations
This guide summarises EU Regulation 261/2004, the Montreal Convention and public airline notices. Baggage figures were checked against airline liability notices on 2026-10-19. Rules can change, so always confirm the latest version with the official sources above before you claim.