Flight delayed, cancelled, or missed your connection?
When a flight goes wrong, two things decide what happens next: whose fault it is and whether you're on one ticket or two. Get those right and you'll know whether the airline owes you a rebooking, a refund, or cash compensation. Here's what to do in the first ten minutes, and exactly what you're owed.
Quick answer
- Act fast and in parallel — join the rebooking line and call the airline / use the app at the same time.
- Airline's fault, one ticket? They must rebook you free on the next available flight.
- Flight cancelled and you won't travel? You're owed a refund (even non-refundable, US rule).
- Bumped from an oversold flight? US DOT cash compensation — ask for a check, not a voucher.
- To/from Europe or UK? EU261/UK261 may add €250–€600 for long delays and cancellations.
- Separate tickets / self-transfer? You're usually not protected — this is where fast rebooking help matters most.
Stuck at the airport right now? We'll connect you with an independent specialist who can find and book the fastest way to your destination while you're still in line. See how →
What to do right now
- Get in two queues at once. Stand in the rebooking line and call the airline or open its app — whichever reaches a human first wins.
- Ask to be rebooked on the next flight — including on a partner airline if that's faster. Be specific about times.
- Know what you're owed (see the table below) so you can ask for it: a free rebooking, a refund if you won't travel, or compensation if you were bumped.
- Keep every receipt — meals, taxi, hotel. You may be able to claim them.
- Check your ticket type. One ticket (protected) vs two separate tickets (not protected) changes everything.
One ticket vs separate tickets — the thing that decides everything
If your whole journey is on one ticket and a delay makes you miss a connection, the airline must rebook you at no charge and look after you if it was their fault.
If you booked two separate tickets (or a "self-transfer"), the second airline owes you nothing when you miss it — that flight is just a no-show. You'll usually need a new ticket. This is exactly where a specialist earns their keep: finding the cheapest fast re-route.
Your rights by situation
| What happened | US flights (DOT) | To/from Europe or UK (EU261 / UK261) |
|---|---|---|
| Airline cancels your flight | Free rebooking, or a refund if you don't travel | Refund or re-route + possible €250–€600 |
| Big schedule change | Rebook, or refund if it's significant | Refund or re-route |
| Long delay (airline's fault) | No federal cash; rebook; refund if you don't fly; meals/hotel per airline's commitment | €250–€600 if 3h+ late arrival + meals/hotel |
| Missed connection — one ticket, their fault | Free rebooking + care | Re-route + care |
| Bumped / denied boarding (involuntary) | Cash compensation (200–400% of one-way fare, DOT cap) | €250–€600 |
| Separate tickets / self-transfer | Usually no protection → new ticket | Usually no protection → new ticket |
Bumped from an oversold flight
If you're involuntarily denied boarding on an oversold US flight, DOT rules entitle you to cash compensation — generally 200% of your one-way fare (up to a cap) for a shorter delay to your arrival, and 400% (higher cap) for a longer one. You can ask for a check, not a voucher. If you volunteer to be bumped, that's a negotiation — get the offer and the rebooking in writing before you give up your seat.
Partly used ticket (one leg already flown)
If disruption hits after you've already flown part of the trip, you're generally owed the value of the unused portion or a re-route. How it's calculated depends on the fare, so it's worth having someone check the exact numbers before you accept whatever is offered first.
Before anything else — where did you book?
With a travel agent / us → ask them to rebook or claim for you.
Airline direct → the airline handles the rebooking; we'll tell you what to ask for.
An OTA (Expedia, Booking.com…) → in a disruption, deal with the airline at the airport for rebooking, and the OTA for any refund. We can guide you through both.
We won't pretend to control an airline's system — but in a disruption, finding and booking the fastest route is exactly what we can do.
Frequently asked questions
I missed my connection — what do I do?
If it's one ticket and the airline caused the delay, go straight to the airline (desk + app + phone) and ask to be rebooked on the next flight, including partners. If it was two separate tickets, the onward flight is a no-show and you'll likely need a new ticket — get help finding the cheapest fast option.
Do I get compensation for a delayed flight?
On US flights, there's no federal cash payout just for a delay — but you can get a refund if you choose not to travel, and meals/hotel may apply for airline-caused delays. On flights from the EU/UK, a 3+ hour late arrival that's the airline's fault can mean €250–€600 (or £220–£520).
The airline changed my schedule — can I get a refund?
If the change is significant (US DOT: departure/arrival moved 3h+ domestic or 6h+ international, a changed airport, an added connection, or a downgrade) and you don't want the new flight, you can take a refund instead of rebooking.
I was bumped from an overbooked flight — what am I owed?
If you were involuntarily bumped on a US flight, DOT rules give you cash compensation based on your one-way fare and how late you arrive (200% up to a cap, or 400% for longer). Ask for a check rather than a travel voucher.
One leg of my ticket is already used — can I still get value for the rest?
Usually yes — you're owed the value of the unused portion or a re-route, but the calculation depends on the fare. Have someone check the numbers before accepting the first offer.
Stuck right now? Let's get you moving.
In a disruption, speed is everything — the next seat goes to whoever asks first. We'll connect you with a licensed independent travel specialist who can find and book the fastest route to where you're going, and tell you what the airline owes you.
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