The dubious social media trend “airport theory” suggests that travelers can arrive at the airport as early as 15 minutes before their flight because the plane simply wouldn’t leave without them.
Don't believe everything you see online: your plane will leave whether you're on it or not.
However, sometimes it's not your fault. Even if you give yourself enough time, you might get stuck in an unexpectedly long security line or get a flat tire on the way to the airport. Flight delays can cause even the fastest gate-to-gate sprinters to miss their connection.
Whatever the reason you missed your flight, here are some tips to get you started again.
Contact your airline as soon as possible.
If you know you're going to miss your flight, don't wait until you're at the airport to seek help. Call your airline, tell the representative you can't make it, and ask about rebooking options. If your airline's app has a chat function, you can use that too.
Some airlines, including Delta Air Lines, state that if you miss your flight, your entire itinerary, including your return trip, may be canceled. Notifying the airline as early as possible can prevent this.
If you're already at the airport, contact your airline's customer service desk or see a gate agent if you're going through security.
Rebooking policies vary depending on the airline. In most cases, however, airlines will rebook you for free if they are at fault (your previous flight was delayed), but not if they are at fault (you arrived late at the airport). Since booking a new flight at the last minute usually means paying the difference between the old fare and the new fare, you'll most likely pay a surcharge even if the airline doesn't charge a change fee.
For more information about your rights if the airline is at fault, see the Department of Transportation's Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, which provides a side-by-side comparison of the 10 major U.S. airlines' policies regarding flight cancellations and significant delays.
Consider taking a few simple steps in advance — downloading your airline's app, turning on notifications and joining its loyalty program — to beat the crowds when many people try to rebook at once, said James Ferrara, the founder of InteleTravel, a network of more than 60,000 travel advisors.
You may also be able to rebook more quickly if you have access to an airline lounge, Mr. Ferrara said. Receptionists in lounges can often make rebookings.
For flights booked through a partner airline, contact the airline operating your flight directly. Both airlines could rebook you, Mr. Ferrara said, but the airlines don't always have real-time data on seat availability for their partners' flights.
If the next available flight is full, you can ask to be placed on standby even if you have already been rebooked on a later flight. And if your airline has no other way to get you there, they may agree to book you on another airline or give you a refund.
You may also be entitled to food and accommodation. Every major U.S. airline has committed to covering the cost of a meal if passengers are stranded for more than three hours due to a cancellation within the airline's control (weather delays are considered uncontrollable). Almost all of them also provide accommodation for passengers who are delayed overnight.
Ask about a “breakdown rule.”
If you miss your flight due to unforeseen circumstances – such as a car breakdown – ask whether your airline has a “breakdown rule.”
This type of policy is more of an unwritten agreement than an official rule and can vary by airline. But airlines may be more lenient to a passenger who has had a mishap than to a passenger who arrived late due to negligence.
“Our teams work to assist customers on a case-by-case basis when they miss their flight after experiencing an unexpected setback on the way to the airport,” said Erin Jankowski, a spokeswoman for United Airlines.
Delta follows its own version of a breakdown rule that gives its employees “situational flexibility to help when life gets in the way,” said Samantha Facteau, a spokeswoman for the airline.
Imagine yourself in front of your bags.
If you've checked your luggage on a flight but haven't made it on board yourself, reuniting with your belongings seems to be a top priority. But United warn against dealing with it later.
“Make sure you rebook first and then speak to someone about your luggage, as seats fill up quickly in the event of disruption,” the airline’s website says. “If your luggage arrives at your destination before you, we will hold it for you until you pick it up.” You might want to put an AirTag in your pocket just in case.
Stay cool.
Missing a flight is frustrating. But patience goes a long way, especially since the employee helping you can often determine how you will be rebooked, fed and accommodated.
“Don’t panic,” Mr. Ferrara said. Instead, focus on how to make the most of your options. “If you go into it with all this fear and panic,” he said, “then it becomes harder for the people who can help you to help you.”