How to reduce the risk of miss connecting flights
By Darren Cronian on Thursday, July 9th, 2009

This week I wrote about an issue with connecting flights and Rob, the Global Traveller offered to put some advice together. As a travel junkie Rob has visited over 100 countries. Buying separate air tickets for part of a journey can save up to 50% compared with buying a single ticket covering all the flights.

How to reduce the risk of miss connecting flights

There is, however, an underappreciated cost of flying on multiple tickets.

Misconnection is when you fail to make an onward flight. Missing an onward flight may worsen stress levels and cost a lot of money (buying last minute tickets is expensive) and valuable time (the next available flight could be hours or even days later).

Airline responsibility, passenger responsibility

Under the contract of carriage, which you agreed to when purchasing the ticket, the airline is responsible to get you to the destination of the ticket. Airlines have no responsibility for onward travel on another ticket, even if that travel is on the same airline.

It is the passenger’s responsibility to check in and be ready to depart at the required times for the onward flight.

Some airlines more helpful than others

Some airlines, however, do more than the minimum they are obliged to do. Special treatment varies considerably depending on the circumstances and cannot be relied upon.

Low cost carriers generally do not do more than they have to, but full service airlines might. Airlines are more likely to assist misconnecting elite and premium passengers – those with frequent flyer elite status with the airline or their alliance partners, and/or travelling on a first, business or flexible fare.

Simple things you can do to help manage the risk

To reduce the chance of a misconnection happening:

1. Have a few hours to a day between arrival on one ticket and departure on the other.
2. Book close to departure date, or allow extra time for possible future airline schedule changes.
3. Fly the same airline on the 2 separate tickets – you are more likely to get help.
4. Try to take an earlier flight where possible.
5. Be proactive – check weather forecasts and flight status for potential problems on the day of travel.
6. Do not check in baggage – this saves time.
7. Check in online for the onward flight – this saves time but does not prevent a misconnection
8. Know the airport layout and know what you need to do to transfer between flights.
9. Get independent advice from frequent flyers like on Flyer Talk as the time needed varies widely.

There are also things you can do to minimise the consequences of a misconnect if one occurs, but that is for a later post. Now it is your turn, what tips and advice would you give someone who is taking a connecting flight for the first time.


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9 responses to “How to reduce the risk of miss connecting flights”

Jeffrey Ward | 9 July, 2009 at 8:18 pm

And if you do misconnect, don’t stand in line at the customer-service counter, call the airline’s toll-free reservations number. These reservations agents can also assist and have access to all the same data the gate agents see. This strategy got me the last seat on the next flight not-too-long-ago at DFW.

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andygeog | 9 July, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Good advice again Darren – I had never thought about what would happen if I missed a connecting flight on a different ticket.

Advice about taking carry-on luggage and checking in online is brilliant. Of course, if you are on a connecting ticket your luggage will be checked through. It’s a nightmare when you make your flight but your luggage misses it.

We had 5 nights in Mexico with the £100 BA decided to offer us as compensation for delayed luggage.

I always like at least one hour between flights, or over two hours if on a seperate ticket so I have time to collect luggage & check in.

Andy

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Darren Cronian | 9 July, 2009 at 8:45 pm

@ Andy

I cannot take the credit, the advice was from Rob, the Global Traveller.

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Brian | 9 July, 2009 at 9:48 pm

Good tips, though not sure how many people would go for having a day between arriving / departing.
I would also add that the seasons should be taken into account. We are based in the Caribbean and if we have a stop over in the USA, we make sure that layover times are longer during winter, just in case there are weather delays. Also we have paid a little bit extra in order to change planes in Florida, rather than States further north during winter (for the same reason – bad weather).

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TGT | 11 July, 2009 at 10:41 pm

There are some situations where a transfer time of a day is well warranted.

Some routes have only 1 flight a day, or even less often. In those circumstances a tight connection from the previous flight is not wise. I’ve had plenty of experience of such inconvenient airline schedules forcing me to take a stopover.

Allowing a day between arriving in a city by air and leaving on a nice (and expensive) cruise, is common sense.

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Julia | 13 July, 2009 at 9:57 am

Also Check your Travel Insurance if this has happened. Or book a policy which covers it is you intend to have onward flights.

Check the wording: “Missed Departure / Missed Connection. We will pay up to £xxx for additional accommodation and travel expenses” etc

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Jen | 15 July, 2009 at 11:57 pm

TGT’s comment regarding the frequency of flights is an excellent point and one which is often overlooked – if a destination only has two or three flights per week an overnight stop the day before the flight is a much better option than missing the flight and having to wait another 2 days before you can continue on your journey, or risk missing a long haul flight e.g between Africa and US. Also remember that airlines can change schedules at any time and your flight could be changed by a few hours or even cancelled altogether and moved to the next best flight which may not be the same day.

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katie harriman | 13 October, 2009 at 7:26 pm

I know this may sound silly, but I would like some advice.

I have booked a flight from Stansted to dublin and then from Dublin to Rome, both flights with Ryanair. There is a 2 hour break between flights. I will be taking over-head baggage only and will be checking in on-line for both flights beforehand.

Once inside Dublin terminal building can I just go straight to the Gate from which my Rome flight is departing? I’m sure I don’t need to go through customs but would like to check?

I am concerned I may not have enough time with delays and if I have to leave terminal building to then re-enter.

Just being extra cautious!!

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Darren Cronian | 13 October, 2009 at 10:52 pm

Hi Katie,

I haven’t been to Dublin airport in years, but I would have thought that you would go through passport control on entering the airport, and then go through the transfers desk to get to your flight to Rome.

This link explains the transfer process
http://www.dublinairport.com/at-airport/latest-news/transfer_facility.html

I hope this helps

Darren

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