Scenario
My connection is tight and I'm still on the plane: what to do
Short version: before you land, find your next gate and how far it is. Tell a flight attendant you have a tight connection. Be ready to go the moment the doors open, carry-on in hand.
And check the airline's app as you walk: if you're not going to make it, you may already have been rebooked.
Your first flight is running late, the minutes are ticking down, and you're stuck in seat 32F. You can't make the plane go faster, but what you do in the last 30 minutes of the flight makes a big difference.
1Work out how much time you really have
Compare the new landing time with your next flight's departure, then remember the next flight's door closes about 10 to 15 minutes before departure. Also check whether your next flight is delayed too: it often is, and that buys you time.
As a rough guide, if you'll have under 30 minutes between landing and your next departure, you need to move fast. Under 15, start thinking about plan B.
2Find your next gate before you land
Use the plane's Wi-Fi or the airline's app to look up your connecting gate. Then check:
- Same terminal or a different one? A terminal change can add 15 to 30 minutes, especially if it means a train or a bus.
- Do you need to clear security or passport control again? Arriving from abroad into the US usually means immigration, collecting checked bags, customs and security again.
- Which way do you turn when you get off? A quick look at the airport map now saves minutes later.
3Tell the crew
Let a flight attendant know you have a tight connection and the flight number. They may be able to tell you your arrival gate, give you the latest gate for your connection, ask passengers without connections to let you off first, or let the airline know you're coming.
4Get ready before the plane stops
Before the doors open
- Shoes on, ready to stand once the seatbelt sign goes off
- Phone charged, airline app open
- Passport and boarding pass in your pocket, not your bag
- You know exactly where your overhead bag is
- Asked the people in front if you can go ahead
5Move, and check your phone on the way
Walk fast (run only if you need to), and follow the signs for connecting flights rather than the exit. While you walk, open the airline's app:
- Your gate may have changed since you last looked.
- Your flight may be holding. Some airlines hold a departing flight for a few minutes when connecting passengers are close. United, for example, built a system to decide when a short hold won't make the flight late for everyone else.
- You may already have been rebooked. If the airline knows you can't make it, it often puts you on the next flight automatically.
6If you're not going to make it
If both flights are on one ticket, the airline is generally responsible for getting you on a later flight at no extra cost. Check the app first, since it's usually faster than the queue at the transfer desk. If you're on separate tickets, contact the second airline straight away; it may treat you as a no-show.
If your flight is cancelled rather than just missed, here's what to do if your flight is cancelled at the airport.
Next time: give yourself more room
The best fix for a tight connection is not booking one. Here's how to tell if a 45-minute layover is enough before you buy the ticket.
General guidance only. What airlines do for missed connections depends on the airline, the route and your ticket. Always follow the crew's and the airline's instructions.
Questions people ask
Will the airline hold my connecting flight?
Sometimes, if many passengers are connecting and holding the flight won't make it late or cause others to miss connections. United, for example, uses a system that can hold a departing flight for a few minutes for late connecting passengers. Don't count on it: keep moving as if it won't wait.
What happens if I miss my connection on one ticket?
If both flights are on one booking and the first flight's delay caused the miss, the airline is generally responsible for rebooking you on a later flight at no extra cost. Many airlines rebook you automatically and show the new flight in their app.
Can I ask other passengers to let me off first?
You can ask politely, and many people will let you go ahead if you explain you have a tight connection. Ask the crew too: on some flights they announce it and ask passengers without connections to stay seated.