Flight disruption guides
Missed connection compensation: when can you claim?
You may qualify for compensation when a delayed flight makes you miss a connection on a single reservation and you reach your final destination at least three hours late under applicable EU/UK rules. Separate-ticket self-transfers are different. The cause of the delay and the flights covered matter.
1. Check whether your connection is protected
Look at your confirmation and airline booking references. Ask whether all connecting flights are on a single reservation. A single purchase from an online agent can still contain separate tickets and a self-transfer.
For a self-transfer, the second airline generally is not responsible for disruption on the first airline’s separate ticket. You might still have rights concerning the first flight, but missing the next separate flight does not by itself create through-journey compensation rights.
2. Contact the airline at the airport
Go to the operating airline’s service desk or contact it through its official channels. Ask for the next available route to your destination and, where applicable, meals or overnight accommodation. Do not buy a costly replacement before asking what the airline will provide.
Keep the original and replacement boarding passes, notifications and itemised receipts. Write down the actual arrival time at the final destination, not just how late the first flight departed.
3. Check the route, arrival delay and cause
EU rules generally cover flights departing the EU on any airline and flights arriving in the EU from outside it when operated by an EU airline. UK rules cover departures from the UK on any airline, arrivals in the UK on a UK or EU airline, and arrivals in the EU on a UK airline. Connecting itineraries can be complex; check the official guidance for your full route.
For eligible single-reservation connections, an arrival delay of three hours or more can lead to compensation unless the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances. Missing a connection because you arrived late at the gate or did not allow enough time on a self-transfer is not the same as airline-caused delay.
4. Understand compensation versus expenses
EU compensation bands can be €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on distance and the applicable rules. UK bands can be £220, £350 or £520. Reductions can apply in some cases, including certain rerouting or long-haul delay situations. These figures are not a promise of payment.
Reasonable care expenses and ticket reimbursement are different from compensation. The US has no general federal requirement for airlines to pay compensation simply for a delayed flight; airline commitments and refund rights must be checked separately.
5. Submit an evidence-based claim
Write to the operating airline with your booking reference, all flight numbers, travel date, planned and actual final-arrival times, and the reason given for the disruption. Say whether the flights were on one reservation. Request the compensation or expense reimbursement that applies to your case.
If rejected, ask for the written reason and supporting explanation. Check the relevant airline ADR scheme or national authority for escalation. Time limits vary by jurisdiction; do not assume a single deadline applies everywhere.
Booked a Kiwi.com self-transfer?
Open your booking in your Kiwi.com account and check whether a disruption service was purchased or included, and which terms applied when you booked. Contact Kiwi.com through its official Help Center before making changes where the product terms require it.
A commercial disruption product is not the same as statutory airline compensation and its coverage is not automatic. Keep separate records for the airline claim, insurance claim and any booking-agent assistance. A complaint prepared here does not contact Kiwi.com or the operating airline for you.
Guide FAQs
Does a self-transfer have the same protection as one airline reservation?
No. Separate tickets generally do not create through-journey rights. Check each flight’s rights and any disruption product separately.
Does every missed connection qualify for compensation?
No. Eligibility depends on the booking, route, final-arrival delay and cause. Keep evidence and use the operating airline’s official claim channel.
Official sources
Sources checked: 3 November 2026
General information, not a legal assessment. Eligibility depends on your route, booking and the reason for disruption. A request on this site does not submit a claim to an airline or Kiwi.com.