A missed connection happens when a passenger fails to board their connecting flight because a previous flight in the same booking was delayed, cancelled, or arrived too late.
Even though the first flight may not seem like a big delay, missing your connection can cause major arrival delays — and under EU261/UK261, you may be entitled to compensation.
Learn More About the Definition of "Missed Connection"
A connecting flight is part of a single booking that requires passengers to change planes during the journey (for example, Lisbon → Paris → Berlin).
If your first leg arrives late and you can’t make the transfer, you have experienced a missed connection.
According to EU261/2004 and UK261, this is treated as one continuous journey — meaning compensation depends on the delay at your final destination, not at the airport where the connection was missed.
Typical causes include:
- Flight delays or cancellations on the first leg
- Late arrival of inbound aircraft
- Long queues or gate changes at the connecting airport
- Tight layovers scheduled by the airline
- Rebooking delays or miscommunication between partner airlines
When does a Missed Connection qualify for compensation?
You may be entitled to EU261/UK261 compensation if:
- Both flights were booked under the same reservation (same PNR)
- The total arrival delay at your final destination was 3 hours or more
- The disruption was within the airline’s control (e.g. technical or operational causes)
- The journey departed from the EU/UK or was operated by an EU/UK carrier arriving into the EU/UK
Example:
If your Lisbon → Paris flight was delayed by 1 hour, but that delay caused you to miss your Paris → Berlin connection and you arrived in Berlin 4 hours late, you can still claim compensation — even though the first delay was only 1 hour.
Compensation amounts (EU261)
| Flight Distance | Compensation (€) |
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
Why does it matter?
A missed connection can mean lost time, stress, and unexpected costs — but it also activates strong passenger rights.Many travellers don’t realise that EU261/UK261 compensation applies even when the delay happened on an earlier leg of the journey.
Knowing this ensures you don’t lose money or give up your rightful claim.How does AireClaim help with a Flight Claim?
AireClaim analyses your entire itinerary to determine whether your missed connection qualifies for compensation.
We check:
- Your booking reference (PNR) and flight details
- Operational data from both flights
- Weather and ATC records to verify cause
- The final arrival delay at destination
You only pay a success fee if we win.
- Start here: Check eligibility & start your flight claim
- Read more: Passenger Rights under EU261
Did you missed your flight connection?
All countries All airlines No win, No fee
FAQs about What is a Missed Connection
Unfortunately, EU261 only covers missed connections under the same booking reference (PNR). If you purchased flights separately, the airline is not responsible for the missed onward flight. Learn more in Connecting Flight.
If the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or ATC strikes, the airline may be exempt from paying compensation. However, you still have the right to care and re-routing. Learn more in extraordinary circumstances.
Go directly to the airline’s transfer or service desk. They must offer you a new flight to your destination and, if necessary, hotel accommodation and meals while you wait. Keep all documents and receipts — they help support your claim. Learn more in EU261 Regulation.