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In today’s time, air travel has not only become the fastest means of saving time, but is also the main means of making travel around the world easier. While booking flight tickets, people often choose combinations of different airlines according to their convenience and budget so that they can travel better at a lower price. But if you are also one of those passengers who have booked connecting flights of two different airline companies to reach their destination, then this news is very important and eye-opening for you. This booking done just to save a little money or to save time can turn your entire trip into a nightmare. During travel, if the first flight gets delayed even a little and you miss the second connecting flight, then passengers may have to suffer huge financial losses due to the strict rules of the airlines companies. Let us know in detail what are the rules of airlines in such a situation and whether you will be able to get a refund or not.
When a passenger books a connecting flight with the same airline company (Single Airline PNR), the management and responsibility of both the flights lies with that respective airline. If the first flight is delayed due to a technical glitch, bad weather or other reasons, the airline has a moral and commercial responsibility to offer the passenger a free seat on the next flight or arrange hotel accommodation.
On the contrary, when a passenger books separate tickets (Separate PNRs) of two different airlines, the two companies have no legal relationship with each other. The first airline does not care which airline and at what time your second flight is. If the first flight is delayed even by 30 minutes from the scheduled time, and you are not able to reach the boarding gate of the other airline on time, the other airline may declare you a ‘No-Show’ and you may lose all your money.
The biggest question that comes to every passenger’s mind is whether they can get a refund if they miss a connecting flight? The simple and obvious answer is—no, you usually won’t get a refund. Since both the tickets were from different companies and the mistake or delay was caused by the first airline, the second airline may flatly refuse to provide any compensation or refund.
The other airline’s argument would be that you did not report on time, so the entire ticket amount has been forfeited. At the same time, the first airline was responsible only for taking you to your destination and not for completing any other journey on your journey. In such a situation, passengers have to buy expensive tickets for another flight from their own pocket at the last moment, due to which their entire travel budget gets spoiled.
If you are forced to book flights of two different airlines, then by taking some precautions you can avoid big losses. The most important rule is to leave enough ‘layover time’ between the two flights. It is very important to have a gap of at least 3 to 4 hours for normal domestic flights and at least 5 to 6 hours for international flights so that even if the first flight is late, you have enough time left to catch the second flight.
Apart from this, taking travel insurance can prove to be a very wise step. There are many travel insurance policies available in the market that cover ‘Missed Connections’. If your flight is missed due to any legitimate reason, the insurance company compensates you for the financial loss. Always read the policy terms carefully while booking tickets so that you get financial protection in case of an emergency.
Aviation regulators around the world like India’s DGCA are continuously making strict rules regarding the rights of passengers, but passengers themselves have to be cautious in matters of booking with different airlines. Airlines companies share their terms and conditions at the time of ticket booking, which most passengers click on ‘I agree’ without reading.
Travel experts always recommend that whenever possible, choose connecting flights with the same airline or code-share partner, even if it means paying a little more. Booking on the same PNR keeps your travel legally protected and the airline is bound to take responsibility for you. By exercising a little common sense and caution, you can make your journey stress-free and safe, thereby avoiding unplanned delays and refunds.