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If you're a frequent traveler, prepare yourself mentally for the possibility of missing a flight due to unexpected glitches, such as forgetting documents, traffic jams, or accidents.
Tips for Dealing with Missed Flights
No matter how careful you are, it's essential to have some strategies in mind for handling missed flights to avoid being caught off guard.
In particular, passengers who purchase cheap airline tickets need to be even more cautious because most of these airlines do not offer ticket refunds. In fact, you may even risk losing your return ticket if you book a round-trip fare.
Take a Deep Breath
There are numerous ways to handle this dire situation and minimize the damage to your wallet. The first thing to do is to head to the airport, even if you're certain you won't make it to the gate for boarding.
Returning home in despair won't help you at this moment. Remember that there might be other flights departing on the same day to the same destination.
All you need to do is find that flight and book a seat in the passenger cabin.
With some airlines, you can board one of those flights without paying an additional fee for ticket changes.
Ask about the 'two-hour' rule
Airlines have policies to assist customers who miss their flights due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, most of these policies are not widely disclosed, so you must actively inquire for information.
The slang term in the aviation industry for this policy is known as the “flat tire” or the “two-hour rule”.
Under this, if you encounter risks causing flight delays, the airline will issue a standby boarding pass on the next flight to your destination free of charge.
This rule does not apply to passengers arriving at the airport the next day to request resolution. Additionally, tickets are not available about two hours after the original departure time.
That's why you must definitely go to the airport, even knowing you've missed the flight. Many airlines have this policy, but they don't disclose it because they want customers to buy tickets that allow refunds or higher-priced ticket changes.
However, this policy also depends on actual conditions, depending on the gate attendants and seat availability on subsequent flights.
Additional Ticket Change Fee
If the airline does not offer free ticket changes, you may have to pay an additional 150 – 200 USD per ticket to reserve seats on the next flight.
The good news is you'll only need to pay the change fee once. If you cannot board the next standby flight, you'll be listed on subsequent flights without needing to pay an extra fee.
Additionally, there are cases where you purchase a last-minute one-way ticket, and the price of this ticket type is usually lower than changing tickets. However, this method is not easy and comes with risks as you still haven't bought a return ticket.
Regardless, remember to confirm clearly with the airline for handling requests. Otherwise, they will cancel your round-trip flight booking.
Missing an International Flight
It's disheartening that the 'two-hour rule' only applies to domestic flights. If you miss an international flight, you'll need to reserve seats on the next flight at the current price. Due to last-minute booking, this price can be significantly higher than what you previously booked.
That's why you're often required to arrive at the airport very early for international flights. Purchasing travel insurance also helps you handle these situations better.
Keep Your Documents Handy
When approaching the ticket counter to resolve issues, it's advisable to keep all your documents, including the policies that the airline applies to your situation.
If you later decide to file a complaint or submit a travel insurance claim, these documents will be extremely helpful.
Stay Calm and Polite
After missing your flight, you may easily feel stressed and uncomfortable. What you need to do is control these negative emotions until airport staff help you resolve the issue.
According to Bình Minh/Tuổi trẻ
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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourSeptember 8, 2020
