As we made our final descent into Vancouver, British Columbia, the mood on the plane was tense. At least two dozen passengers on this flight—myself included—had an all-but-impossible connection to make. Upon taxiing to the gate, a flight attendant made an announcement, asking everyone who wasn’t on the connecting flight to please remain seated.
Of course, nobody did. Once I waded my way to the front of the plane, I broke into a full-out run, moving faster on foot than any time I could remember in the previous couple of decades. I arrived at the gate ahead of anyone else but, alas, there was no prize. Huffing and puffing, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. Outside the plate glass window, that huge Air New Zealand wide-bodied jet was pushing back from the gate, bound for a long transpacific flight. Gone. Next stop, Auckland.
Don’t Panic
Here’s the main thing: Do not freak out. Your carrier is contractually obligated to get you to your destination. This isn’t like showing up late to the airport and missing your flight entirely, a situation that will probably mean you’ll need to purchase a new ticket. Here, it’s just a matter of rescheduling. The one notable exception is if you’re traveling on two separate tickets. In that case, missing the second flight is the same thing as missing the first.Figure Out Your Next Flight
Obviously, the most important thing to do is figure out how you’re actually going to get to your destination. Fortunately, most airlines will automatically rebook you on the next available flight out, and you’ll get an email or text informing you of the new plan. Sometimes, that doesn’t happen, or the new times/routing won’t work for you.When that happens, resist, if you can. Get into the huge line that will inevitably form for the help desk. These days, airports tend to be chronically understaffed, and many ticket counters have been entirely eliminated. Before following the herd, consider your options.
Do you have status with the airline? If so, you may be able to rebook at the VIP lounge. Does the airline have new, high-tech tools to streamline this process? I once rebooked a flight (twice) with Delta, entirely by text, through its app. At the very least, call the airline’s toll-free number while you wait in the rebooking line, then make the changes with whichever airline employee you speak with.
Explore the Airport
In many cases, a missed connection will just mean a longer layover. Depending on the size and location of the airport, you might have plenty to entertain and amuse you right on the concourses. For example, I once discovered an airport tour while spending extra time at FRA in Frankfurt, one of Europe’s largest and busiest airports. This tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at airport operations and includes a bus excursion out on the tarmac—looking up at those giant 777s and A380s boarding passengers for flights all over the world is a sight I won’t soon forget.
Lounges and Pods
You don’t have to be banished to the land of harsh lighting, insufferable crowds, and uncomfortable chairs with armrests that won’t ever go down and allow you to stretch out. Even if you have to pay, it’s worth finding a nicer place to wait out your now-much-longer connection.Take Advantage of an Unexpected Overnight
Japan has become one of my favorite countries, but my first visit wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t a missed connection, exactly, but similar. Flying home from Bangkok via Narita, I learned that the flight from NRT was badly overbooked, to the extent that the airline was offering $1,000 and a confirmed seat on a later flight.“Could I make my return three days from now, rather than tomorrow?” I asked. No problem. So I took the grand, booked a small room in a business hotel, and rode the train into Tokyo. I filled the following days with baseball and yakitori and rides all over town on the JR, getting swept across Shibuya more than a few times. And when the time came to finally board my belated flight, I definitely wanted to stay much longer.
