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Yes if one booking, no if separate tickets

Am I eligible for compensation if I missed a connecting flight?

By Emma Walsh Updated 8 July 2026 4 min read
Quick Answer

If your delayed first flight and your missed connection were on a single booking (one reservation reference), the operating airline of the delayed leg is liable for your total arrival delay at the final destination — even if the connecting flight was operated by a different carrier. Separate tickets change everything.

Legal basis: UK261, as interpreted for connecting itineraries on a single reservation.

You likely ARE eligible if…

  • Both flights were on a single booking reference (one PNR), even across different airlines in an alliance or codeshare
  • Your total delay at your final destination — not just the first leg — was 3+ hours
  • The cause of the original delay was within the airline's control

You likely are NOT eligible if…

  • You booked the delayed flight and the connecting flight as two entirely separate reservations
  • Your total arrival delay at your final destination was under 3 hours
  • The original delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, ATC restrictions, security threats)

What you're owed

  • The same fixed UK261 tiers as a standard delay, based on the total distance of the itinerary and the delay at your final destination: £220, £350, or £260–£520
  • Care (meals, hotel if overnight) from the airline responsible for the missed connection while you wait for a rebooked flight

If you believe you're eligible, use our free UK261 Flight Delay & Cancellation Claim Letter to make your claim.

Read the full guide on this topic →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my flights were on one booking or two?

Check your booking confirmation for a single reservation reference (PNR) covering both flights. If you paid once for a through-itinerary — even a codeshare across two airlines — it is almost always one booking. If you checked out separately for each flight, even on the same trip, they are separate bookings.

What if I booked separate tickets — is there anything I can do?

UK261 will not cover the missed connection itself, but travel insurance with missed-connection cover can reimburse rebooking costs and reasonable expenses. Building buffer time between separately booked flights is the best prevention.

This page sets out the general legal position and is not legal advice. Individual claims can turn on facts not covered here — FlightLogic does not guarantee any outcome.

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