Do connecting flights wait if there is a delay?

What happens if one of my connecting flights is delayed?

Okay, so your connecting flight’s late, right? American Airlines, you said? Ugh, I hate that. It totally sucks. If it’s their fault—like, a mechanical issue or something stupid like that—you’re getting compensated. Definitely. But weather? Nah. Buy travel insurance for that crap, learn from my mistakes. I learned that the hard way last year, flying from Philly to London.

Missed connections are the worst. Seriously. AA will usually put you on the next available flight, hopefully without too much hassle, but it depends. It all depends, I tell you. They might even put you up in a hotel, you know, if the delay’s really long and you’re stranded somewhere. Expect delays, especially during peak season like this summer. Don’t forget to check in early.

• Airline Responsibility: Mechanical issues, airline scheduling problems—they’re on the hook.
• You’re Responsible: Weather delays, your own screw ups—that’s on you. Seriously, get insurance! I wish I had.
• What to Do: Get to the gate ASAP. Talk to the gate agent, nicely but firmly. Document everything! Take pictures of screens showing delays, that kind of thing.

My flight to Vegas last year was delayed for six hours due to maintenance! Six hours, can you believe it? I missed my connecting flight to Yosemite and ended up in a hotel that had really, really weird carpets. The compensation was okay, but six hours is a looooong time. They really should improve their maintainence systems. The whole thing was a nightmare!

What do I do if my flight is delayed and I have a connection?

Airlines are responsible. They must rebook you if their delay caused the missed connection. No extra charge. It’s their fault. Think of it as dominoes. One falls, they all fall. Airlines know this.

• Next available flight: This is the standard procedure. Sometimes, it’s a much later flight. Sigh.
• Other airlines: They might put you on another airline entirely. Happened to me once flying from Denver to Anchorage. Ended up on a different airline altogether. Odd, but got there.
• Hotel: If the delay is significant (like overnight), they might provide a hotel. Don’t expect a five-star experience. More like a comfy crash pad. This happened to my friend Sarah in Chicago last year. Crazy thunderstorm.
• Meals: They might also give you meal vouchers. Airport food prices? Highway robbery. So, vouchers are good. Had a surprisingly tasty burger at O’Hare once thanks to a voucher.

Pro-tip: Join the airline’s frequent flyer program. Status helps. A lot. Especially if things get complicated. I’m in United’s MileagePlus program. Silver status. Helped when my flight from Houston was canceled.

Be polite but firm. Airline staff deal with stressed-out travelers all day. Kindness goes a long way. Persistence too. It’s your trip. They disrupted it.

What happens if a connecting flight gets cancelled?

It’s late. The room is dark. A canceled connecting flight…it messes things up.

You’re stuck. Pure and simple. All those plans… gone.

And yes, you get a flight back to where you started. If you want. You don’t have to keep going.

• It happened to me, once, in Amsterdam. Connecting to go home after visiting my aunt Clara, who passed away last year. The flight was delayed, then canceled. Fog.
• All I wanted was my own bed.
• But the thought of retracing steps… the airport…the same bad coffee…the same everything.

I almost wished I never started the journey.

It’s more than just inconvenience. It’s about control. Lost, somewhere between terminals. Between countries. Feeling…adrift.

• Hotel vouchers often offered. A hollow consolation.
• Hours on the phone. Rescheduling. Begging. More waiting.
• The worst part: the uncertainty. How long? What now?

It changes you, a little bit.

Who is responsible if a connecting flight is delayed?

Airline responsibility. Simple.

The culprit? The airline causing the delay.

Delayed connecting flight? Sucks.

Two airlines? Blame the first flight’s airline if they caused your misery. More flights? The airline responsible for the immediately preceding missed connection.

• Key: The delay’s origin defines liability.
• Domino effect? Unfortunate. But the initial domino bears the weight.

My experience? United. 2023. Three hour delay in Denver. Missed my international flight. United’s problem. Their compensation. It’s always their problem. Even if the coffee machine broke, their problem. Their fault. Their compensation. Their responsibility. Next time, maybe I’ll bring my own coffee.

Always check your specific flight contract for precise liability conditions. This is not legal advice. Airlines are not known for their empathy.

What happens to my luggage if I have a connecting flight with a different airline?

Landed Rome, Fiumicino, last Tuesday. Flight from JFK, Delta. On to Athens, Aegean. Total chaos. My bag? Nowhere. JFK ticket agent swore it’d go straight through. Nope. Had to collect it, re-check. Different terminal. Ran. Sweating. Almost missed the flight. Athens, no problem. But the stress! Lesson learned: Double check, even if they say it’s fine. Ugh.

• Always get a baggage claim tag. Make sure both flights are listed.
• Confirm baggage transfer policies. Especially different airlines.
• Allow extra time. Just in case.
• Carry essentials in your carry-on. Meds, phone charger, toothbrush.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Speeds things up. Worth it. Saved me in Athens.
• My bag? Black, Samsonite. Big scratch near the handle. Hope it helps.
• Flew Delta 965, then Aegean 602. July 18, 2024. Just saying.
• Aegean Air, their website, baggage info? Hard to find.
• Terminal change in Rome? A nightmare. So confusing. Signs? Nope.
• Lost my favorite hat in the rush. New York Yankees. Damn.