What happens if you miss your flight and how much it could cost you with Ryanair, Easyjet, TUI and more
MISSING a flight is one of the worst ways to start a holiday, with motorway crashes to forgotten passports some of the most common hold ups.
However, all is not lost as some airlines will offer free rebooking if you want to get on the next flight, while others will only charge a small fee.
So if you do happen to miss your flight, here's what you need to know:
Which airlines will help if you miss your flight?
Not all airlines are the same. In fact, the way they handle passengers who have missed their flights is very different.
Here's a guide to the policies of the major UK airlines, including EasyJet, BA and Virgin.
EasyJet
Budget airline easyJet offer missed flight cover from just £7.50 if you're booking easyJet holidays - handy if you're often late.
The airline will put you on the next available flight free of charge, or offer a full refund, so long as you get to the airport within four hours of your scheduled departure time.
This is not available for flight-only bookings with the airline.
Otherwise, easyJet also offer an £99 Rescue Fee to book you onto the next available flight - as long as you arrive within two hours of your scheduled departure time.
Ryanair
Ryanair offer a Missed Departure Fee, at a cost of £100, to book passengers onto the next available flight.
But there is a catch - you have to be at the ticket desk within one hour of your scheduled departure time.
TUI
If you miss your flight, there are no refunds or transfers available - and you'll have to buy a new ticket.
Flybe
Flybe flights are not only non-refundable but the company will also cancel any return or onward reservations booked with them.
So make sure you let them know if you're running late, and at risk of missing your flight.
British Airways
BA do not offer refunds if you miss your flight.
They do automatically book you onto the next available connecting flight if your first flight was delayed, but only if both legs of the journey are booked through BA as one journey.
A spokesman explains: "If you booked your connecting flight separately with another airline, we won't be able to help, even if our flight was delayed.
"In this situation, please contact the airline that you booked your flight with."
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Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook do not offer to refund missed flights, and will cancel return flights if missed.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin customers who miss their flights are put onto the next available flight at no extra cost if they get to the airport staff desk.
Extra fees will be charged if the flight is changed in some way, such as the class or the destination.
Are there any other ways to claim money?
If you're on a package holiday and your tour operator hasn't got you to the airport on time, it is their responsibility to move you onto the next available flight at their own expense.
Meanwhile, most travel insurance policies include missed flights - and should cover any expenses incurred booking new flights etc.
The maximum you can claim for missed flights is normally £1,000 - and you need to have a valid reason.
These can, but don't always, include public transport delays and car break-downs or crashes. They don't include oversleeping, sorry.
Anyone who misses a flight can also reclaim their Air Passenger Duty tax. This can be up to £78 for an economy flight.
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Passengers who miss their outbound flight are having their return journeys automatically cancelled due to a "no-show" clause.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have advised passengers that they could even sue the airline if they are not told about their cancelled return flight.
However, the success of the claim depends on a number of factors, such as the assistance offered by the airline or whether staff are able to waive any fees for cancelled flights.
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