Missed Connection Compensation — Can You Claim?
Missing a connection because of a delayed first leg is one of the most claimable — and most misunderstood — situations in flight delay compensation. The key principle works in your favour: your delay is measured at your final destination, not at the airport where you missed the connection. That means even a short initial delay can produce a large, compensable final delay.
This guide explains when a missed connection qualifies and how it’s assessed. Check your final-destination delay against the threshold with the compensation calculator.
When a Missed Connection Qualifies
The Core Rule
It comes down to your final arrival:
- You’re assessed on arrival at your final destination — see arrival vs departure time
- If you arrive there 3+ hours late, you may be owed compensation
- A 90-minute first-leg delay that costs you a connection can mean hours late overall
- The connection must have been part of a single booking
Whose Fault and Which Airline
Liability and the right defendant matter:
- The delay must be the airline’s responsibility — not extraordinary circumstances
- You claim against the operating airline whose delay caused the miss
- On a through-booking, the carriers are treated as one journey
Distance and Amount
How Much for a Missed Connection
The band is set by the whole journey:
- Distance is origin to final destination — see distance bands
- £220 / £350 / £520 depending on that total distance
- Long-haul missed connections often fall in the £520 band
Common Questions About Missed Connections
My first flight was only 40 minutes late but I missed my connection and got home a day later. What can I claim?
Potentially the full amount for your distance band. Because compensation is measured at your final destination, a small first-leg delay that causes you to miss a connection and arrive many hours — or a day — late can mean a 3+ hour qualifying delay. The trivial size of the initial delay doesn’t limit the claim.
I booked the two flights separately. Does that change things?
Yes, significantly. The missed-connection rule treats your journey as one only when the legs are on a single booking. Book two separate tickets and the airline isn’t responsible for you missing the second because the first was late — each flight is assessed on its own. Through-bookings are far stronger.
Which airline do I claim against if two different carriers were involved?
You claim against the operating carrier whose delay caused you to miss the connection. On a single through-booking the journey is treated as one, but the compensation liability sits with the airline responsible for the delay that broke the connection.
The connection point was outside the UK and EU. Am I still covered?
It depends on the start of your journey. If your journey began with a flight departing the UK (or an EU airport, or on a UK/EU airline into the UK/EU), the journey can be covered even though you connected elsewhere — because your final-destination arrival is what’s assessed. A journey wholly outside the UK and EU generally isn’t covered.
Related Guides
Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Am I Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation?
Extraordinary Circumstances Explained
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Delayed Flight
If your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free flight delay claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
