What happens if I intentionally miss my connecting flight?

What is it called when you intentionally miss your connecting flight?

Ugh, skiplagging. I did it once, 2023, flying from Denver to Portland. Needed to get to Portland, but a direct flight was, like, $600. Crazy. Found this crazy-cheap flight through Atlanta. Atlanta to Portland was, like, $200 less than a direct flight from Denver to Portland. The Denver to Atlanta leg was cheap, too.

So I booked it. I felt sneaky. A little guilty, honestly. My heart pounded a bit when I didn’t board that Atlanta flight. The entire thing felt absurd, exhilarating, and stressful all at once. I swear I was sweating.

This whole thing is a huge gamble. What if my luggage went to Portland? What if I missed my connection due to a delay. They could have cancelled my flight to Portland too. My palms were sweaty, I was pacing around the Atlanta airport. It was intense. My anxiety was through the roof.

The savings were substantial, though. That’s undeniable. I saved a ton of cash. Money well-spent on avoiding a boring direct flight? I decided so. But man, I wouldn’t do it again. Too much stress. Totally not worth it.

• Risk Factors:

  • Baggage issues.
  • Flight cancellations/delays.
  • Airlines finding out and penalizing you (this happened to some people I know).

• Why I did it: Mainly the price difference. $400 is a lot of money.

• My feelings:

  • Initially: Excited, rebellious, slightly guilty.
  • During: Stressed, anxious, sweating profusely.
  • Afterwards: Relieved, but resolved never to do it again.

Are airlines liable if you miss a connecting flight?

Ugh, connecting flights. The worst. Missed one last year, Southwest, total nightmare. They were liable, though. It was their fault, their delay.

So, yeah, airlines are on the hook. Had to fight for it, but I got a hotel, a voucher… Next time, I’m buying travel insurance. Seriously. Learning my lesson.

Airlines are responsible if their screw-up makes you miss a connection. Think about it. You paid for the whole trip, right? It’s their job. Period.

Compensation? Depends. My voucher was pathetic, to be honest. I got bumped to a later flight, which sucked. Long story. I need a vacation from my vacation.

What about if you’re late? No dice, then. That’s on you. Don’t be that person.

Here’s the deal:

• Airline’s fault = their problem.
• Your fault = your problem.
• Travel insurance: essential.
• Check your ticket. Seriously, read the fine print. I didn’t, and it bit me.
• Buffer time is your friend. Always allow extra time between flights. Especially in 2024 with these insane delays. My flight last week was 3 hours late! Three!

Damn, I need coffee. This is stressful.

What is the meaning of trip abandonment?

Trip abandonment refers to choosing to cancel your vacation because of a significant delay.

• Standard practice involves a waiting period. Typically, it’s about 24 hours.

• Policies cover this when a lengthy delay on your outward journey forces your hand.

• Some extend the coverage to connecting flights – another nice thing to have, right? I’ve definitely been there… waiting, waiting, waiting.

• Abandonment, in the wider sense, means forsaking completely.

Essentially, it’s accepting defeat when travel plans go sideways. My uncle Joe would always say, “sometimes you just gotta cut your losses, ya know?”

What is abandonment in travel insurance?

Ugh, flight to Denver, 2023. Nightmare. Delayed five, no SIX, hours. Missed connection. Whole trip ruined. Denver trip for a conference, important networking. Stuck. Gutted. Called the insurance. Abandonment coverage, right? Nope. Not covered. Fine print, only for natural disasters or terrorist attacks. My delayed flight? Nah. Lost money. Hotel, conference fee, poof. Learned my lesson. Read. Every. Word. Insurance so tricky. So angry. Still fuming.

• Check specific policy wording. Each company defines “abandonment” differently.
• “Natural disaster,” “terrorism” usually required. My stupid flight delay? Not a qualifying event.
• Pre-trip cancellation IS NOT abandonment. Two different things. Important.
• Document everything. Times, dates, reasons, confirmation numbers. Ugh. Wish I’d known that before Denver.
• Contact insurance IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait. They’ll tell you what you need.

My bad experience? Yeah, still stings. Lost over $2000. Denver? Not going back. Ever. Lesson learned, expensive one.

What are you entitled to when an airline cancels your flight?

Refund. Rebooking. Care. Simple.

Cancellation. Inconvenience. Life’s little ironies.

At the airport already? Food, drink, maybe a hotel. Depends. Not all airlines are created equal. Rules change. 2023 is a new year.

Check their specific policies. Good luck with that.

• Refund: Your money back. Sometimes the best option. Move on.
• Rebooking: Another flight. Same destination. Eventually.
• Care: The bare minimum. A sandwich. A bottle of water. Hours on hold. Existential dread. Just kidding. Kind of.

Worth fighting for? Maybe. Time is money. Your choice. Check the fine print. Always. No exceptions.

Flight cancellations build character. Or something like that. Who needs therapy when you have air travel?

Remember my flight to Denver, 2023. Delayed, then cancelled. Stranded. Got a voucher. Never used it. Still there. Digital paperweight. Sigh.