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Missed Your Flight? Get Rebooked Today
Missed a flight or connection? A live agent rebooks you on the next flight, explains standby and same-day options, and finds the cheapest way onward, 24/7.
If you missed a connection because your first flight was late, the airline owes you a rebooking at no cost. If you simply arrived late, many carriers apply a flat-tire rule that lets you stand by on the next flight if you show up within about two hours, and others require a same-day change fee.
An agent knows which rule applies to your ticket and can compare the airline's rebooking with a fresh one-way on another carrier, which is sometimes the faster and cheaper option.
The most important move is to call before you are marked a no-show. Once you miss a flight without notice, most airlines cancel the rest of the ticket, including your return. Reaching an agent while you are still en route or at the airport keeps your options open and often means a free rebooking rather than a brand-new fare.
Calls are answered by licensed travel agents at our partner agency, 24/7. WarBird Flight is independent and not affiliated with any airline.
Who this is for
- Travelers stuck at the airport after a missed departure
- Passengers who missed a connection because of a delay
- Anyone running late who wants to know their options before they arrive
Have ready when you call
- Confirmation code
- Where you are right now and where you need to be
- How flexible you are on routing and airline
How it works
- 1
Call immediately; the earlier you call, the more seats are available.
- 2
The agent checks whether the airline will rebook you free (delays caused by the airline) or applies its same-day rules, and looks at other carriers if that is faster or cheaper.
- 3
You get the new boarding pass details by email and head to the gate.
Airline rules that apply
- Airline-caused missed connections are rebooked free.
- Passenger-caused missed flights depend on the carrier: standby, same-day change fee, or a new ticket.
- Call before the flight departs if you can; a no-show recorded before you call limits your options.
By airline: Delta Air Lines · American Airlines · Southwest Airlines · Alaska Airlines · Hawaiian Airlines · Air Canada · Lufthansa · British Airways
Ready when you are
Call and a licensed agent handles it on the spot. Updated confirmations are emailed as soon as the change is made.
Fees
Airline same-day change fees or new fares are charged by the airline. Our partner agency may charge a service fee for the rebooking, disclosed before you approve it. See all fees.
Frequently asked questions
I missed my flight. Do I lose my ticket?
Not necessarily. Call right away. Many airlines will put you on standby or rebook you for a fee if you arrive within a couple of hours, and if the airline caused the delay the rebooking is free.
What is the flat-tire rule?
An informal policy at several US carriers: if you arrive within about two hours of departure after an unforeseen problem, they will try to put you on the next flight without a new fare.
Does missing the outbound cancel my return?
On most airlines, yes, a no-show cancels remaining segments. Call before the flight departs to protect the return.
Can you book me on a different airline?
Yes. If a new one-way on another carrier is faster or cheaper than the airline's rebooking, the agent will tell you.
Guides that help with this
Booking tipsMissed Your Flight? What to Do in the Next HourWhether you can still be rebooked, the informal grace some airlines extend, why a no-show voids the rest of your ticket, and the fastest way back on a plane.
Airline policiesSeparate Tickets and Self-Transfers: The Risk to Your TripWhy two cheap tickets can cost more than one, what happens when a self-transfer connection breaks, and how to protect a tight itinerary.
Booking tipsHow Much Connection Time You Need, Airport by Airport TypeMinimum connection times, what a safe layover looks like domestically and internationally, and when a longer layover is the cheaper and safer choice.
Airline policiesYour Flight Was Cancelled: Rights, Refunds, and RebookingWhat airlines owe you when they cancel, how to choose between rebooking and a refund, and how to get moving fastest.
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Written and maintained by the WarBird Flight editors. WarBird Flight is an independent booking service and is not affiliated with any airline.