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YourBestFlight › Missed connection options

Missed your connection? Your options now.

You're already at the connecting airport. The goal now is simple: get on the onward flight most likely to actually leave — and collect what you're owed for the disruption.

Short answer: Get rebooked on the onward flight most likely to actually depart, ranked on live aircraft data rather than the schedule. If the misconnection was within the airline's control (mechanical, crew, IT — not weather or air‑traffic control), it generally owes you rebooking at no charge and, for a long wait, a meal or a hotel. If you decide to stop traveling instead, a cancellation can entitle you to a refund.

Don't take the first seat offered — take the one that will fly

At the rebooking counter, the agent's screen shows the schedule, not the live aircraft. The next flight out might be on a plane that's still hours away, while a slightly later one is already boarding. Knowing which will really depart is the difference between getting home tonight and sleeping at the airport.

Example

Misconnected at Chicago O'Hare (ORD); two onward flights to your destination.

OptionPublishedReality check
Flight A, 9:10 PMOn timeInbound aircraft still 90 min out
Flight B, 9:45 PMOn timeAircraft already at the gate

Flight B, though later on paper, is the safer way home — its plane is already there.

How YourBestFlight reaches a different result

Find your best onward flight

Enter where you are and where you're headed — we'll rank the onward flights most likely to get you there tonight.

Free Still on your inbound flight? Check its live status free first — live map and a realistic read on when you'll land.

Decision support only, and not legal advice — confirm rebookings and your rights with your airline. Amenity and refund rules reflect the U.S. DOT baseline; an airline's own policy can be more generous.