What Happens If You Miss Your Flight on American Airlines?
You got the days off work, you booked your hotel room, you found a cat sitter, and you’re all set to go on the European vacation that you’ve been putting off for too long. But when you get to the airport, you realize that your American Airlines flight was at 6, not 6 pm like you thought. Is the trip ruined? Has your last hope just lifted off the runway and over the horizon? What actually happens if you miss your American Airlines flight? Here’s the aeronautical nitty-gritty…
Is Your Vacation Doomed?
American Airlines’ policy on missed flights largely depends on one thing: the reason why you missed your flight in the first place. If you got the departure time wrong or were delayed while traveling, the airline will generally consider your reservation canceled. In that case, any flights on the same itinerary (like your return flight) will be canceled as well. If the ticket you purchased was non-refundable, you’re also likely to lose the value of the ticket. Long story short, if missing the flight was your fault, the airline sadly isn’t obligated to help you.
This also applies to connecting flights booked through two separate airlines. Let’s say you’re flying to Austin and have a layover in Atlanta. If you booked your initial flight to Atlanta via another airline and a delay causes you to miss your American Airlines connection to Austin, then American Airlines is also not obligated to help you because the delay wasn’t their fault — even if that delay wasn’t your fault either.
What Happens if The Delay Was American Airlines’ Fault?
If the delay was American Airlines’ fault due to mechanical problems or weather conditions, American Airlines will rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge. This is also the case if you’re flying on a connecting flight — so long as you booked both of your flights through American Airlines in the first place.
If The Delay Was Your Fault, Hope Still Isn’t Lost
If you’re on the way to the airport but you know you’re running late, it’s best to call the airline before the flight leaves and let them know your situation. It’s possible that the agent could put you on a later flight with an open seat. If you can’t call ahead, talk to an agent at the airport as soon as possible — they could potentially put you on a later flight if there’s space. It’s important to speak to someone as soon as you can. If the airline considers you a no-show, your options become much more limited.
Your saving grace could be the “flat tire rule,” an unofficial airline policy that is sometimes offered as a courtesy to customers. If you’re delayed by something outside of your control (traffic, a train delay, bad weather, or literally a flat tire), the airline may book you on a later flight and waive your changeover fee. It’s essentially the airline saying, “We see that you tried your best, we’ll try to help you out.” If you show up within two hours of your missed flight boarding pass in hand, it’s highly possibile that the airline will have mercy on you.
The decision whether to implement the flat tire rule lies with the gate agent or customer service representative, so you must be polite when you approach them with your problem. Being nasty to an agent is the fastest way to get your ticket canceled without a refund, and could even hurt your reputation with the airline in the future.
The Bottom Line
If you miss your American Airlines flight because of a problem on their end, they’ll certainly rebook it for you. If your delay was your own fault, you may still be able to get on a later flight if you call ahead or show up within a few hours of your flight and explain what happened. There’s no guarantee, but as long as you’re nice about it, hopefully the airline will be nice to you too.
(featured image: Kuster & Wildhaber Photography)
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