At a glance
Travel insurance may cover missed flights for reasons specified on the policy
You likely won’t be covered if you’re at fault or if a delay was predictable
If you are covered, you’ll normally be able to claim up to a set limit
Your policy may cover missed connections and delays if they’re not covered by the airline – but check the terms.
Are missed flights covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance differs between providers, but many policies offer some form of cover if you miss your flight or connection.
What will travel insurance cover?
If you miss your flight for a covered reason, travel insurance may cover additional expenses you incur as a result, up to a certain limit. That could cover the cost of booking a new flight and accommodation if you need to stay overnight in a hotel.
Occasionally, policies may also cover non-refundable fees or lost deposits for things like hotel bookings, tours and excursions, if your missed flight means you’ll get to your destination too late to use them.
Cover can vary between policies. That’s why it’s important to read your policy carefully, so you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not.
In what situations could I be covered for a missed flight?
An insurance provider may accept a claim for a missed flight if the delay was caused by:
Public transport delays due to things like industrial action, technical faults, breakdowns or staff shortages
An accident involving the vehicle you are travelling in, or significant, unforeseen traffic or road closures
The vehicle you’re travelling in is involved in an accident, or delayed significantly due to unforeseen heavy traffic or road closures
Your car breaking down – unless it has not been properly serviced or maintained
Extreme weather conditions – such as heavy snow.
What isn’t covered?
You’re unlikely to be able to claim if you missed a flight due to:
Oversleeping
Not leaving enough time to get to the airport or through security
Being unable to board your flight because you forgot your passport
Delays caused by a protest, strike or civil unrest that was publicly announced in advance
Heavy traffic that was not caused by an accident, such as planned roadworks.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive.
Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.
When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
Will travel insurance cover missed flight connections?
It usually depends on whether it’s the airline’s fault.
If it’s the airline’s fault:
Most travel insurance providers won’t cover you for delays and missed connections that are the airline’s responsibility.
If your flight departs from or arrives at a UK airport, or if you arrive at an airport in the EU on a UK airline, you have certain rights under UK law.
Legally, the airline has a duty of care to look after you until you get to your booking destination, no matter what has caused the delay.
In practice, if you miss a connecting flight because your original flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline is responsible for getting you on another flight and paying for food and accommodation while you wait.
You may also be entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled or arrives at its destination more than three hours late – but only if it’s the airline’s fault.
It’s important to note that the airline is only responsible for missed connections if they’re on the same booking. This is sometimes called a ‘through’ ticket.
If you booked the flights separately, you’ll need to get in touch with the connecting airline to rebook.
If it’s not the airline’s fault:
If a delayed or cancelled flight causes your missed connection, the airline should rebook your onward travel or get you back to the departure airport, even if the delay was out of their control, like extreme weather. But if it’s not the airline’s fault, you won’t usually be entitled to any compensation.
If your airline is not responsible for a missed connection – for example, because you made separate bookings – there’s a chance you may be able to claim for additional costs through your travel insurance. You’ll need to check your policy to see whether connections are included.
If you’re at fault for missing a connecting flight, then it’s unlikely that you’ll be covered by the airline or your travel insurance. The airline may be able to help you rebook, but you’ll normally have to shoulder the costs yourself.
And, unfortunately, you almost certainly won’t be able to claim if you miss your flight or connection due to long queues at security – even if you arrived in plenty of time.
What should you do if you miss your initial flight or connection?
If you arrive at the airport too late to catch your flight, go straight to your airline’s customer services desk, explain what’s happened and find out if they’ll offer you an alternative flight.
If you’ve already checked your luggage and you’ve missed your flight due to airport security queues, for example, speak to a representative from the airline to find out where your luggage is and what you need to do.
What do I need to make a missed flight travel insurance claim?
If you missed your flight through no fault of your own, make sure you can prove it to your insurance provider.
First, check the reason you missed the flight is covered by your policy, and then gather evidence to support your account.
Examples of evidence to help boost your chances of a successful claim include:
Photos or videos of the scene if you were delayed by a road accident
Witness statements from any eyewitnesses
Confirmation from a breakdown company that your vehicle was involved in an incident
Confirmation from the Department of Transport or Highways Agency that there was an incident on the road you were travelling on
Photos or videos of extreme weather that caused your delay
Photos of display boards announcing a public transport delay
Travel documents, tickets and receipts
Your itinerary or travel plan
Evidence that your airline acknowledged a delay, such as an announcement on their website, or you can ask their customer service department to confirm it in writing.
Remember, if you were involved in a road accident, you’ll also need evidence of the incident for your car insurance provider too.
Compare travel insurance
Start by letting us help you find and compare travel insurance providers. Just remember to check each policy carefully to see if the cover you want is included.
If not, you may need to contact individual insurance providers to see if they can add missed flight or connections cover to your policy.
Compare travel insurance today and see how much you could save.
FAQs
How much can I claim for missed flight connections?
Each insurance provider has its own limits on how much you can claim for a missed flight.
This is usually limited to a set maximum amount, which could be anywhere between £250 and £1,500, depending on your individual policy. Don't forget you’ll need to pay the excess on any claim you make.
Can I still claim if I make my own travel arrangements after a missed flight?
Yes, you should be able to claim on your travel insurance if the reason for the missed flight or connection is covered by your policy. Check your policy to see how much you’re covered for and under what circumstances.
You can always give your provider a call to check if you’re not sure.
Remember to keep receipts for any additional expenses to back up your claim.
If I miss my departure flight, will the return flight still be valid?
If the outbound and inbound flights are with the same airline, you’ll need to tell them you still intend to use the return ticket. Otherwise, they might cancel it.
If you booked the outbound and inbound flights with different airlines, your return ticket shouldn’t be affected.
How can I avoid missing my connecting flights?
Make sure you know exactly where to you need to go when you’re at the transit airport. Find out beforehand if you’ll need to go through customs or change terminals.
Some airline turnarounds can be incredibly tight, so don’t waste time shopping or wandering around. Get to the departure gate first.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
An experienced commercial leader with nearly 20 years’ experience in digital comparison and consumer services, Tom Lyon is a trusted voice in industries that affect millions of households. Tom’s made appearances on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky News, as well as programmes such as Watchdog, The One Show and Good Morning Britain.
Tom’s areas of expertise include travel insurance, as well as utilities and digital products such as energy, broadband and mobile.
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