Your airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination

If your connecting flight is delayed and you miss it, your airline must book you on the next available flight to your final destination at no extra cost to you. This applies whether the delay was caused by weather, mechanical issues, air traffic control, or the airline's own operations. The airline cannot charge you a rebooking fee, and you do not have to accept a flight on a different airline unless yours has no other options that day.

The key word is "available" — the airline can rebook you on any flight that gets you there, not necessarily the next one if that flight is full. If no flights exist that day, the airline must either put you up in a hotel and feed you, or offer you a refund. You are may have access to to this rerouting whether your tickets were booked as one itinerary or as separate tickets purchased from different airlines.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your final destination at no cost, regardless of what caused the delay.
  • If no flights are available that day, the airline must provide a hotel room and meals, or refund your ticket.
  • You are may have access to to compensation under U.S. Department of Transportation rules if the delay was the airline's fault, though weather and mechanical issues have different rules.
  • Keep your boarding pass, receipts for meals and hotels, and any written communication from the airline to document what happened.
  • If you booked separate tickets from different airlines, each airline is responsible only for its own leg, and you may need to rebook the second flight yourself.

When the airline must pay for meals and a hotel

If your connecting flight is delayed long enough that you cannot reach your destination the same day, the airline must provide you with a hotel room for the night and meal vouchers or reimbursement. This applies to delays caused by the airline's own operations, crew scheduling, mechanical problems, or overbooking. You do not have to ask — the airline is required to offer this without you requesting it.

Keep all receipts. If the airline does not provide vouchers and you pay out of pocket for a hotel and meals, you can request reimbursement from the airline after your trip. Most airlines have a form on their website for this, or you can submit receipts by mail. Reimbursement typically covers a reasonable hotel room (not luxury pricing) and meals up to a set amount per meal, usually $15 to $20 depending on the airline.

Compensation for delays caused by the airline

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to pay cash compensation if a delay of three or more hours was within the airline's control. This includes mechanical problems the airline should have caught, crew scheduling errors, overbooking, or problems with ground equipment. The compensation is $250 for delays of three to six hours, $400 for six to nine hours, and $650 for nine or more hours. You receive this payment in addition to being rebooked.

Weather delays, air traffic control delays, and security issues do not trigger compensation, even if you miss your connection. The airline must still rebook you and provide meals and a hotel if needed, but no cash payment is required. If you believe the airline misclassified the reason for the delay, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation after your trip.

What to do if you booked separate tickets from different airlines

If you purchased your tickets separately — for example, one ticket from Airline A to a hub city and a second ticket from Airline B from that hub to your final destination — each airline is responsible only for its own flight. If Airline A's delay causes you to miss Airline B's flight, Airline A must rebook you on Airline B or another carrier, but Airline B is not obligated to help you because you were not their passenger on the missed flight.

This is why travel agents and booking sites warn against booking separate tickets with a tight connection. If you did book this way and miss your second flight, contact Airline A when ready and ask them to rebook you. If they refuse, you will likely have to purchase a new ticket from Airline B yourself and then request reimbursement from Airline A. Keep all documentation of the original delay and the new ticket cost.

How to document the delay for your records

Before you leave the airport, take a photo of the departure board showing the delay and your gate number. Ask the airline for a written statement of the reason for the delay — some airlines print this on a receipt or boarding pass, and others will email it to you. Write down the names of any airline staff you spoke with and the time you spoke with them.

Save your original boarding pass, your new boarding pass for the rebooked flight, and any receipts for meals, hotels, or transportation. If the airline provides meal vouchers, keep those too. These documents are your proof if you need to file a complaint with the Department of Transportation or dispute a denied reimbursement claim.

What happens if the airline cannot rebook you the same day

If no flights to your final destination are available on any airline that day, the airline must offer you a choice: accept a hotel room and meals while you wait for the next available flight, or receive a refund of your ticket price. You can also ask to be rebooked on a flight the next day or later, even if flights exist sooner on a different airline, if that works better for your schedule.

Some airlines will also offer you the option to rent a car and drive to your destination if it is within a reasonable distance, and they will reimburse the rental cost. This is not required by law, but some airlines offer it as a courtesy. Ask the airline what options they can provide before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if weather delayed my connecting flight?

No. Weather delays are not the airline's fault under Department of Transportation rules, so you do not receive cash compensation. However, the airline must still rebook you on the next available flight and provide a hotel and meals if you cannot reach your destination the same day.

What if I miss my connection because of a long security line?

Security delays are not the airline's responsibility, so you will not receive compensation. The airline must still rebook you, but you may have to pay for a new ticket if they claim you did not allow enough time between flights. This is why a two-hour connection is standard for domestic flights.

Can the airline put me on a flight with a different airline?

Yes. If your airline has no available flights to your destination that day, they can rebook you on a competitor's flight at no cost to you. You have no say in which airline, but you must be rebooked on a flight that departs within a reasonable time frame.

What if the airline says the delay was mechanical and not their fault?

Mechanical problems are generally the airline's responsibility under Department of Transportation rules, even if the problem was unexpected. If the airline denies compensation, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation with your documentation of the delay and the reason given.

Do I get a refund if I miss my connection and decide not to continue?

Yes. If you choose not to take the rebooked flight and instead want to end your trip, the airline must refund the unused portion of your ticket. You will not receive compensation for the missed connection, but you will get your money back for the leg you did not fly.