Calling the airline before the flight increases your odds of being rebooked on the next available flight at no extra cost. Experts advise calling your airline right away if you think you'll miss a flight. The earlier your airline is aware that you will be late, the more choices it will have to rectify the situation.
You have no real privileges if you miss a flight because you were late to the airport. Most airlines will mark you as a "no-show" and keep your money if you don't show up. It's worth noting that your return flight will be immediately cancelled as well. Depending on the type of ticket you have, you will be able to get a partial ticket credit if you contact the airline before the flight departs.
• Be aware of the rules. Keep a copy of your airline's contract of carriage on your phone or on the airline's website for easy access.
• Engage the services of a travel agent. A dependable travel advisor will assist you in planning your ground transportation to ensure that you arrive at the terminal on time. Agents who are in the know can also easily locate the next available flight and rebook you with minimal hassle using their connections.
• Don't be afraid to think beyond the box. There are many options for getting to your final destination. A professional speaker and author advise, "Consider other travel choices if there will be a long pause in getting to your final destination."
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: what happens if you miss your flight southwest? Southwest has an unofficial "flat tire" policy that allows passengers who are late for a flight to board the next available flight without paying a fee. This is at the discretion of the employee, so when you're checking your luggage, smile and ask politely. Since gate agents have more power over standby passengers, the check-in agent will refer you to one, but because you're checking luggage, start with the agent at check-in. Is it possible to get to your destination through a link rather than a non-stop flight? You could be out of luck if you miss the last flight of the day.
DELTA AIRLINES: If a scheduled flight is missed, passengers can board the next available flight to continue their journey. The following sections explain how to deal with a Delta Airlines missed flight. What happens if you miss your flight delta? Passengers must take advantage of the two-hour policy, which allows them to board their scheduled flights within two hours of missing their flight. Passengers who miss their scheduled flight can board the next scheduled flight with Delta Airlines on standby, according to the Delta Airlines Missed Flight Policy. Passengers would not be charged any fees if they fly with Delta Airlines. In the event that passengers miss their last scheduled flight, they will be required to wait for the first available flight the next day.
SPIRIT AIRLINES: In the event that passengers miss their scheduled flight, the airlines will allow them to wait. What happens if you miss your flight spirit? If passengers miss their scheduled flight and arrive at the airport within two hours of the missed flight time, spirit airlines will rebook them on another flight.
Passengers must pay a separate spirit airlines missed flight fee to have their flights replaced and returned to scheduled flights.