What to do if…
your flight is delayed and you might miss your onward train, bus, or car rental

What to do now

1. Get the best arrival estimate.
   Check the airline app, airport screens, and any gate announcement for your flight number, scheduled departure, latest estimated departure, and estimated arrival. Screenshot the delay information with the time visible.

2. Separate protected travel from separate travel.
   If your onward leg is another flight on the same booking reference, ask the airline whether it will protect or rebook that connection if the delay makes you miss it. If your onward leg is a separately booked train, coach, airport transfer, taxi, or car hire, treat it as your responsibility to change unless the provider confirms otherwise.

3. Ask the airline for care before spending your own money.
   If UK passenger rights law applies, often called UK261, airline care is generally due after a departure delay of at least 2 hours for flights under 1,500 km, 3 hours for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km. Ask:

   • “Will you provide meal vouchers?”
   • “If this goes overnight, will you arrange accommodation and transport to it?”
   • “If I have to arrange reasonable care myself, how do I claim it back?”

4. Contact the onward provider before the booked departure time.
   Use the app, website, phone line, chat, or desk and say: “My flight is delayed and I may miss my booked departure or pick-up. Can you move me to a later service or late pick-up?” For rail Advance tickets, changes usually need to be arranged before the journey is due to begin; if you miss the first booked train, you may need to buy a new ticket.

5. If your onward leg is rail, check the exact ticket situation.
   If you have not yet started the rail journey and the flight delay means you will miss the first booked train, ask the retailer or train company about changing the ticket before the journey is due to begin. If you are already travelling by train and a delayed train makes you miss a rail connection, ask station staff or the train company which next permitted train you can use; for an Advance ticket, this may need to be a train run by the same train company.

6. Set a last-service checkpoint.
   Check the last workable train or coach, the latest airport-transfer time, and the car-hire desk closing time. If your updated arrival makes these unrealistic, switch to a safer plan early, such as staying near the airport or travelling the next morning, instead of racing the clock.

7. Use the right airline script for your flight.
   If the flight is cancelled, ask: “Please confirm my choice between a refund and an alternative flight.” If the flight is delayed by at least 5 hours and you are thinking of not travelling, ask: “What refund applies if I choose not to travel?” If you still want to travel, do not choose a refund just to end the conversation.

8. Keep one clean evidence trail.
   Save delay screenshots, airline messages, onward-provider messages, receipts, and the names or reference numbers from any staff conversations. If you have travel insurance, open a note for the claim and store the evidence in one place.