I booked flights separately and missed the second due to a delay on the first. Am I covered?

What the Law Says

EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 sets out passenger rights for denied boarding, cancellation, and long delays—but only applies to flights operated by EU carriers or departing from an EU airport. Crucially, it covers only the specific flight affected—not consequential losses like missed connections on independently booked flights.

The regulation applies only when both flights are part of the same reservation (i.e., a single booking reference number). If you booked your first and second flights separately—even if they’re on the same airline or same day—the second flight is treated as a distinct contract with no legal link to the first.

Under Article 6, passengers are entitled to care (meals, refreshments, accommodation, communications) during long delays. Under Article 7, fixed compensation applies for delays of 3 hours or more at arrival—but only for the flight that was delayed, not for any subsequent missed flight.

Article 3(1)(a) explicitly limits the scope to 'passengers who have a confirmed reservation on the flight concerned'. There is no provision extending rights to passengers who miss a separate flight due to a prior delay.

Statutory Text

This Regulation shall apply to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State...

— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 3(1)(a)

Statutory Text

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be entitled to compensation... in the event of: (a) cancellation; (b) long delay...

— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1)

Statutory Text

Passengers shall have the right to care... in the event of: (a) cancellation; (b) long delay...

— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 9(1)

Sources