A connection can be lost long before you land. A first flight that leaves forty minutes late may still be scheduled to arrive "on time" for a layover that is no longer realistic once you account for taxiing, deplaning and the walk between gates.
If both flights are on one ticket, the airline is responsible for getting you to your destination and will rebook you at no charge if you miss the second flight. If you booked the legs separately, the second airline treats you as a no-show. Either way, the earlier you spot the problem, the more seats are left to choose from.
The short version
- On a single ticket, a missed connection is the airline's problem to fix.
- Every airport has a minimum connection time; your real buffer is whatever is left above it.
- You can ask to be moved to a later connection before your first flight even departs.
Planning ahead
Still booking? This is the one disruption you can largely design out. Keep both flights on a single ticket, choose a layover with room above the airport minimum, and avoid the last connection of the day to your destination.
Guides in this section
More guides
- Before you fly: how to prepare for delays and cancellations
- Flight delayed: what to do and what you can ask for
- Flight cancelled: refunds, rebooking and your options
- US air passenger rights: refunds, bumping and tarmac delays
- Airline delay and cancellation policies, compared
- Flight delays by airport