If it is down to a connecting flight being delayed, then the passenger will always be rebooked as soon as possible, free of charge.
However, even if human error, depending on the airline, some may attempt to put passengers on the next flight, with a small admin fee.
Whilst this depends on the flight route as well as the season and how busy it is, many will attempt to fit an additional passenger on.
Joey Dalan, a frequent traveller on forum Quora explained in more detail: ”I once had this happen to me, called while in the cab to the airport, and they rebooked me on the next flight, no problem.
“Other things they can offer you are to fly standby for upcoming flights to your destination or be rebooked (confirmed) for a flight FAR later in the day or in upcoming days.”
Some airlines will allow you to go on the ‘reserve’ list for the next flight out, on the occasion someone else doesn’t turn up.
However, many budget airlines are unlikely to offer this. EasyJet offers a £7.50 add-on when booking that enables them to be rebooked in the occasion of a missed flight, otherwise passengers have to buy a whole new flight.
Similar, other airlines such as Ryanair have nothing in place and passengers simply have to buy another ticket or pay £100 as a ‘Missed Departure Fee” for the next flight if at the airport within an hour of their missed flight.
Other airlines, such as Thomson and Virgin, whilst not always rebooking customers, will at least fully refund the ticket for passengers to then buy a new flight with.
It is also worth checking the return flight if it is the outbound flight that is missed.
Travellers may find that their return journey is cancelled if they don’t make the first flight.
Flybe airline is just one to outwardly state this: “If you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we will cancel your return or onward reservations.
“However, if you advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.”
Otherwise if nothing else, travellers can request their Air Passenger Duty fee back, for not making the flight.
This can be as much as £73 on a long-haul economy ticket.
