Missed a connecting flight

[jb190281]

What would happen if, due to snow or any other reason out of the travellers control, they missed a connecting flight? Would the airline be oblieged to find them a seat on the next available flight?

[ChuckFickens]

No.

It's not under the control of the airline either, why should they have to cover the costs of another flight.

[squarebear]

This is where the all covering "act of god" comes in.

[jb190281]

so if a flight was delayed without the airline providing a reason for the delay, it would be their fault and provide alternative?

[Drisgirl]

However you'll find that other airlines will endeavour to get you to your destination in an unwritten reciprocal agreement.
We were flying to Copenhagen for the weekend -flight was cancelled (deja vu) and BM flew us to London where we had no chance of the flight there to Copenhagen.SAS very kindly (after going into their Business Class Lounge and cadging stuff) flew us out and gave us a bottle of bubbly.
We then got a flight to any destination from BM -had to go back to Copenhagen as it had to be a direct flight but all in all its not always doom and gloom.

[Hymie]

No, what some have said is not correct – providing that you purchased the tickets together as a through trip, then the first carrier has the responsibility for your onward journey.

I will post an authoritative link pointing this out (once I find it).

But if you buy the tickets as a separate transaction, it is your problem if you miss your connecting flight.

[Hymie]

Here is one article on this from Gill Charlton – Telegraph travel guru. (see last item)

http://www.telegraph....riven-to-despair.html

But I recall her writing a more detailed answer on this subject, sometime back.

[Hymie]

This is the article I was trying to find – travellers booked on KLM & Continental flights, should take note.

http://www.telegraph....liday-protection.html

[jb190281]

thanks hymie, i will bear that in mind when i fly with KLM next month (panic will be setting in!)

[Hymie]

If you find yourself on KLM or Continental (which has two flight legs), my advice would be to ensure that you have at least 2 hours between arrival and departure times (more, if you have to clear customs at a first port of entry in the USA). Sometimes such an onward flight is on the same aircraft, and so the problem cannot occur.

I have been on flights where passengers have asked the cabin crew if they can be given priority disembarkation to allow them to transfer to a soon to be departing flight. And sometimes flights will be delayed (but not by much), to allow passengers on an incoming flight to make their connection.

[jb190281]

im flying manchester to amsterdam, which arrives 3.15pm local time. Departing flight to JFK is 5.45pm so isnt too bad. I will definitely bear in mind what you said about priority disembarkation.

[Hymie]

Interestingly, you could be suffering exactly the problem that the travelers in the third post I made (Gill Charlton article). All things going to plan, you should have no problems. Just make sure that on check in at Manchester, your hold luggage is checked all the way through to JFK (so you don’t waste time collecting it at Amsterdam).

In the olden days, on arrival at Amsterdam, you had to present yourself at a check-in desk to collect your boarding pass for the Amsterdam – JFK flight. Now you will be given your boarding passes for both flights at Manchester. On arrival at Amsterdam, all you need to worry about is presenting yourself at the departure gate for the JFK flight (boarding pass & passport in hand).

[jb190281]

keep your fingers crossed for me!

[dzug]

If it is actually a 'connecting flight' by airline definitions then yes they must put you on the next available flight (which may not be the next flight). In some circumstances you have the option of abandoning your trip with a free flight home and a full refund.

If you are using the term loosely - eg 'connecting' to or from a budget flight - then no, they have no responsibility to you.

[Hymie]

dzug’s last sentence is correct, this is explained in Gill Charlton’s articles (linked above) – of course in the fullness of time, these links may no longer work (having moved or been deleted).

[jb190281]

its KLM all the way through Manchester-Amsterdam-JFK, so would that class as a connecting flight? All booked through expedia.

[Hymie]

When you booked the flights through Expedia, providing that you booked it by asking for a flight from Manchester to JFK – then this would count as a ‘through ticket’.

Although you could have bought the tickets as separate transactions on Expedia, this would be a risky thing to do, since having bought one ticket – when you came to buy the next leg of the flight, seats might no longer be available. But if you did this, then technically you do not have a ‘through ticket’, even if they were purchased within 5 minutes of each other.

To put your mind at ease, you could e-mail Expedia’s Customer Support (via their web page) – and ask whether your booking counts as ‘through ticketing’.

[jb190281]

i did book as though asking for a flight manchester-jfk. but i will email customer support, thats a great idea.
thanks for your advice hymie, its very much appreciated

[Dee Sa]

after watching Airline on tv I would say no, well definately not Easy Jet.

[LoftyLottie]

Both Mr LL and I have never had any problems with Easy Jet. The TV programme makes it look dreadful.

Ryanair is a totally different matter -

[jb190281]

never flown with ryanair, considering them for my summer holiday. never had problems with easyjet.