What are my rights for a missed connection?

For connections on one ticket, check your airline’s contract and service plan for free rebooking after a misconnection; DOT does not impose a universal rebooking requirement.

What must the airline do for a missed connection?

If the missed connection results in an overnight delay, most major carriers' Customer Service Plans commit to providing hotel accommodations and meal vouchers when the disruption is within their control.

What should I know about missed connection compensation?

If your tickets were booked separately, the airline operating the first flight has no legal obligation to accommodate you on the second.

Missed Connection Rights & Rebooking Rules

When an airline's delay causes you to miss a connection on one ticket, check its contract and service plan for free rebooking options.

Generate Missed Connection Complaint

Your Rights Under US Rules

What US Department of Transportation rules and airline commitments say for this situation. Use it to frame your request and escalate if needed.

For connections on one ticket, check your airline’s contract and service plan for free rebooking after a misconnection; DOT does not impose a universal rebooking requirement.
If the missed connection results in an overnight delay, most major carriers' Customer Service Plans commit to providing hotel accommodations and meal vouchers when the disruption is within their control.
If your tickets were booked separately, the airline operating the first flight has no legal obligation to accommodate you on the second.

Sources: DOT: Refunds · DOT: Fly Rights · DOT: Airline Customer Service Dashboard · 14 CFR Part 260

Last reviewed October 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice; rules and airline commitments change.

What to say to the airline

Keep the request factual, specific, and supported by the records you saved.

Confirm all flights are on one ticket before checking your rebooking options — ask the agent to pull up your full itinerary.

Ask to be rebooked on the next available flight, including on partner or codeshare airlines, if your carrier has no availability.

If you are stranded overnight due to a carrier-controllable cause, ask specifically for a hotel voucher and meal credit under their Customer Service Plan.

Avoid: Do not agree to a rebooking that arrives significantly later than your original arrival without first asking about alternatives on other carriers.

Avoid: Do not discard your original boarding passes — they are evidence of the missed connection and may be required for an expense claim.

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