Everyday thousand of people miss their flight, but this is usually down to not getting to the airport, checking in and going through airport security in time.
But what happens if you miss your flight after having checked in?
What Happens If You Miss Your Flight After Checking In?
If you check in but still manage to miss your flight, the airline will consider you a “no show”.
This means that an airline will cancel your ticket and therefore the rest of your itinerary, which is why you should always cancel your flight instead of missing it.
The good news is that if you lose track of time after you check in, and it looks like you might miss your flight, the airline will make every effort to try and locate you.
They may do this by announcing your name over the airport’s PA system.
What Happens to Your Bag
If you checked in a bag, there’s a possibility that your bag will arrive at your destination without you, which will certainly be a hassle and take time for you to get your bag back.
However, if you miss your flight after checking in, especially if it is an international flight, your bag will be retrieved from the cargo hold and the airline will hold it for you.
This will usually cause a delay for the passengers onboard.
Additionally, if you are rebooked on another flight, the airline will do their best to retrieve your bag and reroute it to your final destination.
However, you may be able to rebook your flight for a fee.
If you miss your flight due to an issue that is within the airline’s control, then you are entitled to a full cash refund.
What About If You Check in Online and Miss Your Flight
Due to how common checking in online is, it’s more common for you to miss your flight after having checked in online before you reached the airport.
In such instances, you should try and take advantage of the “flat tire” rule.
The “flat tire” rule allows passengers to rebook their flight if they miss their flight or are running late for free or for a small fee.
The best way of ensuring this rule works for you is to make sure that you contact the airline and let them know what you are running late and might miss your flight.
Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.
Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.
Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).
