Missed Connection Compensation
Missed your connecting flight? Get €250-€600 if you arrive 3+ hours late at final destination on a single booking
Table of Contents
Missed Connection Compensation Calculator
Calculate your EU261 compensation based on total journey distance and final arrival delay
Calculate Your Compensation
Enter your missed connection details
Critical Requirements: (1) Single booking reference for all flights, (2) 3+ hour delay at FINAL destination, (3) Missed connection due to first flight delay (not your fault). Compensation calculated on TOTAL journey distance from first departure to final destination, not individual segments.
What Qualifies as a Missed Connection Under EU261?
A missed connection under EU261 occurs when you miss your connecting flight due to delay of your first flight, both flights are on a single booking, and you arrive 3+ hours late at your final destination. This is different from a simple delay - it involves multiple flight segments.
Qualifies for Compensation
Paris 9am → Frankfurt 10:30am → Dubai 6pm (arr 2am next day). First flight delayed to 11:30am. Miss Frankfurt connection. Rebooked on next flight, arrive Dubai 6am (4 hours late). Single booking reference ABC123.
✓ Qualifies: €600 (Paris-Dubai distance over 3,500km, 4h final delay)
New York 5pm → London 6am → Athens 11am. First flight delayed by snowstorm, depart 8pm. Miss London connection. Rebooked, arrive Athens 6pm (7 hours late). Single booking.
✓ Qualifies: €600 despite weather (airline responsible for connection on single booking)
Does NOT Qualify
London → Paris (booking ref ABC123) arrives late. Miss separately booked Paris → Rome flight (booking ref XYZ789). No single booking.
✗ No compensation: Separate bookings = no EU261 connection protection
Berlin → Munich → Milan. Single booking. First flight on time, but passenger spent too long shopping in Munich airport, missed connection due to own delay.
✗ No compensation: Missed connection not due to airline delay
Amsterdam → Frankfurt → Vienna. Miss connection, rebooked. Original arrival Vienna 2pm, actual arrival 4:30pm (2.5 hours late). Single booking.
✗ No compensation: Final delay under 3 hours (though airline must provide care during wait)
The Four Essential Elements
ALL four must be present for EU261 missed connection compensation:
All flights purchased together on one booking confirmation (one PNR). The airline sold you the itinerary as a protected connection.
The missed connection was caused by delay of your first/earlier flight, not your fault (late check-in, shopping, etc.).
You arrived at your END destination 3+ hours later than original schedule. Just missing connection isn't enough - final arrival delay counts.
Journey departs from EU, or arrives at EU on EU carrier. At least one flight must be EU261-covered.
The Single Booking Rule: Make or Break for Your Claim
This is THE most important factor for missed connection claims. Single booking means all flights were purchased together on one booking confirmation (one PNR - Passenger Name Record). If you booked flights separately, EU261 missed connection rules don't apply.
Why Does Single Booking Matter?
When an airline sells you a connecting itinerary on a single booking, they're legally accepting responsibility for ensuring the connection works. This is called a "protected connection." The airline guarantees:
- They've built in sufficient connection time
- If you miss connection due to their delay, they rebook you
- You're entitled to care and compensation per EU261
- Your baggage is automatically transferred
With separate bookings, each flight is independent. You're responsible for making the connection yourself.
How to Verify Single vs Separate Booking
✅ Single Booking Indicators:
- One booking reference/PNR for all flights (e.g., ABC123)
- One confirmation email showing entire journey
- Purchased from airline or single travel agent in one transaction
- Baggage checked through to final destination
- All flights appear on one ticket/boarding pass set
❌ Separate Bookings Indicators:
- Different booking references (ABC123 and XYZ789)
- Two separate confirmation emails from different airlines
- Booked at different times or from different websites
- Need to retrieve and re-check baggage at connection
- Need to check in separately for second flight
Warning: Why Separate Bookings Are Risky
Booking flights separately (to save money or mix airlines) eliminates EU261 protection for missed connections. If your first flight is delayed and you miss the second:
- Airline has NO obligation to rebook you on second flight
- You must buy a new ticket at current price (often very expensive)
- No EU261 compensation for the missed connection
- No care (meals, hotel) while you wait for next available flight you can afford
- Baggage may not transfer - you retrieve and re-check yourself
Only book separately if: (1) you have travel insurance covering missed connections, (2) connection time is very long (4+ hours buffer), or (3) you accept the financial risk.
Compensation Calculation: Total Journey Distance
For missed connections, compensation is calculated based on the TOTAL distance from your first departure airport to your final destination airport, NOT the individual flight segments. This is very favorable for passengers.
Why Total Distance Calculation Helps Passengers
Example: Paris → Amsterdam (450km) → Singapore (10,800km total journey). You miss Amsterdam connection.
- If calculated per segment: Paris-Amsterdam = €250 (short-haul)
- But calculated total journey: Paris-Singapore = €600 (long-haul over 3,500km)
You get €600, not €250! Always calculate from first departure to final destination.
Compensation Tiers for Missed Connections
| Total Journey Distance | Example Routes | Compensation | Reduction Possible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500km First departure to final destination | Paris → Amsterdam → Copenhagen (1,370km) Madrid → Barcelona → Rome (1,480km) | €250 | No reduction |
| 1,500 - 3,500km First departure to final destination | London → Frankfurt → Athens (2,400km) Paris → Amsterdam → Istanbul (2,900km) | €400 | No reduction |
| Over 3,500km First departure to final destination | London → Frankfurt → Dubai (5,470km) Paris → Amsterdam → Singapore (10,750km) New York → London → Athens (7,700km) | €600 | 50% reduction to €300 if final arrival under 4h late |
Real Example Calculations
Case 1: European Connection
Route: Berlin (TXL) → Munich (MUC) → Athens (ATH)
Scenario: First flight delayed 2 hours, missed Munich connection, arrived Athens 5 hours late
Total distance: Berlin to Athens = 1,800 km
Case 2: Intercontinental via EU Hub
Route: New York (JFK) → London (LHR) → Dubai (DXB)
Scenario: JFK-LHR delayed, missed LHR-DXB connection, arrived Dubai 6 hours late
Total distance: New York to Dubai = 11,020 km
Case 3: Long-Haul with Quick Rebook
Route: Paris (CDG) → Amsterdam (AMS) → Singapore (SIN)
Scenario: Missed Amsterdam connection, airline rebooked efficiently, arrived Singapore 3.5 hours late
Total distance: Paris to Singapore = 10,750 km
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get compensation if I miss my connecting flight?
What if I booked my connecting flights separately?
How is compensation calculated for missed connections?
What is the Minimum Connection Time (MCT) and why does it matter?
What if the airline rebooks me and I still arrive 3+ hours late?
Am I entitled to meals and hotel if I miss my connection?
Can I choose my rebooking flight after missing the connection?
What if I miss my connection due to airport security delays?
Can I claim if the first flight was delayed due to weather?
How long do I have to claim missed connection compensation?
What if I had checked baggage and it didn't make the connection either?
Do I need to check in again after missing a connection?
Missed Connection Success Stories
Family Asia Trip via Frankfurt
Family of 4: Paris → Frankfurt → Bangkok. First flight delayed 3 hours by weather, missed Frankfurt connection. Arrived Bangkok 8 hours late.
Result:
€600 × 4 passengers = €2,400 compensation. Airline initially claimed weather = extraordinary circumstances. Passenger cited case law showing missed connection liability despite weather. Settled at full amount after escalation to national authority.
Business Trip Double Connection
Couple: London → Amsterdam → Istanbul. Missed Amsterdam connection, rebooked via Vienna, arrived Istanbul 5 hours late. Single booking on KLM.
Result:
€400 × 2 = €800 (London-Istanbul 2,500km = medium-haul tier). Claimed within 2 weeks with booking confirmation + rebooked boarding passes showing arrival delay. Airline paid within 45 days.
Transatlantic via London Hub
Solo traveler: Boston → London → Athens. Missed London connection due to Boston flight delay. Arrived Athens 7 hours late on next day's flight.
Result:
€600 (Boston-Athens over 7,000km = long-haul). British Airways initially offered €300 citing "quick rebooking." Passenger countered: 7h delay > 4h threshold, no reduction applies. Settled €600 after citing Article 7(2)(c) correctly.
Missed Your Connection?
Missed connection rights vary by jurisdiction and booking type. Our AI will analyze whether your flights were on a single booking, calculate your final arrival delay, and determine your compensation eligibility under EU261 or other regulations. Single booking + 3+ hour final delay = €250-€600 compensation. File your claim now.
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