Missed flight - you can do that now

If you are late for the airport and have missed your flight, then the holiday joy is already gone before you really get going. We will explain what you can do in such a case.

You can do that on a missed plane

It is basically up to you how you get to the airport and that you are there on time. The rule of thumb, two hours before departure, is justified. The route via check-in and controls to the aircraft can be quite long. For long-haul flights, even more time should be planned. If you stand in front of the closed gate despite all the precautions, it depends on who is responsible for the delay.

• Leaving too late, traffic jams on arrival, train delays or cancellations are all adverse circumstances that unfortunately do not interest the airline.
• Personal reasons such as illnesses, deaths or other incidents do not release you from the obligation to be at the airport early. In these cases, you are dependent on the goodwill of your airline.
• So go to the airline counter as soon as possible. Usually you will be rebooked for a later flight. This may incur fees that you have to pay.
• Alternatively, depending on the situation, you can withdraw entirely from your trip. Then the flight will be canceled completely. The flight costs are gone. However, the airline must reimburse you for taxes and fees.
• If you have taken out travel cancellation insurance, you have the chance to get most of your costs back, at least for private, no-fault reasons such as illness. To do this, you must contact your organizer.
• It is different with third party debt. If you miss a connecting flight, for example, because your feeder flight is delayed, the airline must rebook you for a later flight free of charge. This can also be a flight with another airline. In this case, too, contact the airline. You can usually find a counter in the transit area of ​​the airport.
• If the delays result in waiting times of more than four hours at the airport, you also have utilities such as food and drinks. The airline must also pay for this. The same applies if an overnight stay is necessary until the onward flight. The airline must also reimburse you for telephone costs incurred due to the complications.
• If you travel by train to the airport, there can of course be delays or cancellations. If you have booked a Rail & Fly ticket for the train journey as part of a package deal, contact your tour operator immediately. He has to bear the costs of the missed flight. If you organized the train journey yourself, you were unlucky. At most, you can still claim your passenger rights.
• In general, it is recommended that you always secure all available evidence in order to assert your rights in case of doubt. Always have failures, delays or other problems confirmed in writing. Take screenshots or photograph scoreboards.