European UnionI missed my connecting flight because the first leg was delayed. Who is responsible?
If your first flight was delayed and caused you to miss your connecting flight, the airline is usually responsible — provided both flights were booked together on a single ticket and the delay was not due to extraordinary circumstances.
What the Law Says
Your rights are protected by EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies when you’re flying from an EU airport or arriving in the EU on an EU airline — and crucially, when both flights are part of the same booking (a single ticket).
The regulation treats connecting flights as one journey if they’re under a single reservation. That means if your first flight is delayed and you miss your connection — and arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late — you may be entitled to compensation, care (meals, refreshments, accommodation if overnight), and assistance.
The airline is liable unless it can prove the delay resulted from 'extraordinary circumstances' — such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, or political unrest — which could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures.
Compensation depends on flight distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km; €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all other flights between 1,500–3,500 km; and €600 for all flights over 3,500 km.
Statutory TextWhere reference is made to this Regulation, passengers shall have the right to compensation by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 7.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 4(3)
Statutory TextPassengers shall have the right to compensation if they reach their final destination late by… three hours or more.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 6(1)
Statutory TextThe operating air carrier may refuse compensation… if it proves that the cancellation or delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 5(3)
What Courts Have Said
European courts have clarified key aspects of passenger rights for missed connections — especially regarding responsibility, definition of ‘final destination’, and what counts as extraordinary circumstances.
The CJEU ruled that passengers whose flights are delayed by 3+ hours at final destination — including those missing connections — are entitled to the same compensation as cancelled flights, provided the delay wasn’t due to extraordinary circumstances.
Confirmed that Regulation 261/2004 applies to delayed connecting flights where the entire journey is under one booking, and that airlines must provide care (e.g., meals, hotel) during long delays — regardless of cause.
What to Do
Keep your boarding passes, e-ticket, and any delay notifications (e.g., gate announcements, SMS/email).
Ask airline staff for a written statement confirming the delay reason and duration — especially if they cite 'extraordinary circumstances'.
Submit a formal claim to the airline within 2 years (national deadlines vary, but EU law allows up to 2 years; some Member States require claims within 14 days for fastest resolution).
If denied unfairly, escalate to your national enforcement body (e.g., UK CAA, Germany’s Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) — contact details are listed on the European Commission’s Your Europe portal.
Consider using certified mail or email with read receipt to document your claim submission.
Sources
Same Question, Other Jurisdictions
Ireland
UKNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.