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Does Travel Insurance Cover Missed Connecting Flights?

Team AckoNov 28, 2025

Missing your connecting flight is one of the most stressful travel experiences, especially when you’re stuck in transit in a foreign country. That’s where travel insurance can be a real lifesaver. Depending on the reason for the delay, you may be eligible for a refund or reimbursement for rebooking and other related expenses.

Let’s take a look at how travel insurance cover works in such situations, what you can claim, and how to make the most of your policy.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Missed Connecting Flights

Contents

What is Missed Connecting Flights?
Covered Reasons for Missed Connecting Flights
What Expenses Will Travel Insurance Cover For Missed Connecting Flights?
What Expenses Will Travel Insurance Not Cover For Missed Connecting Flights?
How to Make a Claim for a Missed Flight?
Can I Get A Refund If I Miss My Flight?
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Missed Connecting Flights?

A missed connecting flight happens when your first flight is delayed, cancelled, or changes its route, causing you to miss your next scheduled flight. It can happen because of a number of reasons, like:

Airline delays or technical issues
Bad weather conditions
Airport congestion
Late arrivals due to security checks or immigration queues

Covered Reasons for Missed Connecting Flights

Travel insurance may cover missed connecting flights but it depends on your policy and the reason for missing the connection. Let’s take a quick look at how it works

Scenario	Is It Covered	Explanation
Your first flight was cancelled or delayed because of airline problems, bad weather, technical issues, etc.	Covered usually	Most insurance companies see these as real reasons for reimbursement.
You missed the flight because you overslept or arrived late	Not covered	Situations within your control generally aren’t eligible for reimbursement.
You were stuck in a long immigration or security queue	It might depend on the policy you have	Some insurers might make an exception if you can prove that the delay was not your fault.
Your connecting flights were booked on different tickets	Usually not covered	Most policies only apply when all your flights are part of one single booking.

What Expenses Will Travel Insurance Cover For Missed Connecting Flights?

Depending on your plan, the benefits of travel insurance include:

Alternate Travel Arrangements: Reimbursement for rebooking the missed connection or arranging a new flight.
Accommodation and Meals: If you’re stuck because of a delay, your policy might cover things like hotel stays, food, and local transport expenses.
Missed Tour or Event Costs: Some policies reimburse non-refundable bookings for tours, events, or hotels you missed because of the delay.
Extended Coverage for Trip Delay: When you’re stuck waiting for too long, some insurers even pay a set amount for every extra hour of delay.

What Expenses Will Travel Insurance Not Cover For Missed Connecting Flights?

There are certain expenses that usually fall outside its coverage and knowing these upfront can help you plan better and avoid claim surprises later. Here’s what’s usually not covered:

Standby or unconfirmed tickets: Claims are usually accepted only for confirmed bookings. Standby tickets or unconfirmed reservations aren’t eligible for compensation.
Fare differences or seat upgrades: If you book a higher-class seat or a more expensive fare for the replacement flight, only the original ticket cost is eligible for reimbursement.
Personal or leisure expenses during the gap: Costs like shopping, spa visits, entertainment, or other non-essential spending while waiting for your next flight aren’t covered.
Unrelated additional transport or accommodation: If you choose to travel elsewhere or stay longer for personal reasons after missing your connecting flight, those costs won’t be reimbursed.

How to Make a Claim for a Missed Flight?

Here's what you need to do to make a claim for a missed flight

Step 1: Inform your insurer immediately

If it looks like you’re going to miss your connection, let your insurer know as soon as possible. You can either do this through the helpline on their website or mobile app.

Step 2: Keep proof ready

Keep your boarding passes, airline delay confirmation, booking reference numbers, and receipts. These documents are important to get your claim approved.

Step 3: Submit your claim online

Most insurers let you file and track claims digitally. Just upload your documents, explain what happened, and submit your claim within the timeframe that's mentioned in your policy.

Step 4: Wait for approval

Once your claim is reviewed and approved, the insurance company will transfer the eligible amount directly to your account.

Can I Get A Refund If I Miss My Flight?

Missing a flight can leave you wondering whether or not you’ll get any money back, and the answer depends on what caused the missed connecting flight and what your insurance covers.

When You Might Get a Refund

If your missed connecting flight was caused by a delay, cancellation, or technical issue with your previous flight.
When your policy includes missed connecting flight benefits that cover rebooking fees, meals, or short hotel stays.

When You Won’t Get a Refund

If the missed connecting flight was due to personal reasons, for example, arriving late, oversleeping, or misreading the schedule.
For flights booked separately under different PNRs, as airlines and insurers usually don’t cover the second leg.
If you were marked as a no-show, since airlines rarely refund unless the disruption was their fault.

Conclusion

Missing a connecting flight can easily leave you disheartened. It throws off not only your plans but also your mood leaving you upset even before the trip has begun. But having a safety net in place means you have a safety net and you don’t have to deal with the stress alone. A good insurance plan can help you recover unexpected costs, reschedule your journey, and get back on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have two connecting flights and I miss both, will both be reimbursed?

If all your flights are on a single booking and you miss them due to a covered reason, you might be reimbursed for the resulting costs. But if they’re on separate tickets, only the first missed connection is usually covered.

If I get stuck in an immigration queue and miss my flight because of it, will my travel insurance cover it?

It depends on your policy. Some insurers may consider these situations if you can prove that the delay was beyond your control, while others might not.

Will my hotel or tour bookings be reimbursed?

It will depend on the policy you have. Some plans do cover non-refundable costs for hotels, tours, or events that you miss because of a covered delay.

Can I get reimbursed in cash?

No. You cannot get reimbursed in cash for a missed connecting flight.

Does ACKO travel insurance give this benefit?

Yes, ACKO covers missed or delayed flights caused by factors like airline issues or bad weather. Missed flights because of personal reasons, like arriving late at the airport, are not covered.

Will I get a refund on my missed connecting flight?

You might be eligible for a refund or reimbursement if you missed your connecting flight because of reasons beyond your control, like a delay, cancellation, or technical issue with your first flight. But if it was because of reasons like arriving late at the airport, then you will not get a refund.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes. Please check the policy document for cancellation reasons, and terms and conditions of the policy.