Procedure When Missing a Flight
The procedure for missing a flight is something that you should pay attention to when you miss a flight. Often, someone panics and is confused about what to do.
Missing a flight is indeed a rare occurrence. However, it could happen to you. We never know what might happen to us, especially since the roads in the city are usually congested. Therefore, it is necessary to leave home well before the check-in time set by the airline.
Here are some things you need to do when you miss a flight.
Don't Panic, Stay Calm
A person who misses a flight will definitely panic. Even before the plane actually takes off. This is because sometimes the car we are in on the way to the airport can get stuck in traffic, have a flat tire, or encounter other unexpected issues.
To anticipate this, you can actually leave earlier. For example, if the flight takes off at 10 AM, then you should be ready to leave by 6 AM. Waiting for a ride also takes time, and sometimes the car has problems on the road. It is easiest for you to book a ride with a trusted agency that can provide a replacement vehicle if the scheduled car has issues.
You can also inform the driver that you will be using the car to go to the airport. They will give advice and choose a car that arrives on time.
So what if you are still late? You need to calm yourself down and not panic. Reduce your panic so you can think clearly.
Contact the Airline
When the panic subsides, you can contact the airline about your situation. In some cases, flights are delayed. This can make you feel a bit relieved if the flight is indeed delayed for a long time.
However, if there is no delay, you can ask whether the flight ticket can be refunded or rescheduled. For tickets purchased at regular prices, they can usually be refunded, but a percentage of the ticket price will be deducted. This is not a problem, right, rather than losing everything.
If the ticket was purchased on promotion, then it is most likely non-refundable. You will have to let it go. However, you can still try, who knows it might be refundable and reschedulable.
Buy the Next Flight Ticket
If you are at the airport, you can directly buy the next flight ticket at the airline's counter provided. Usually, if you miss a flight and have contacted the airline, there is a special price that is cheaper than buying normally.
You can ask what the next closest flight is and immediately take care of the check-in as well. Stay at the airport, do not go far from the airport, and pay attention to announcements from the airline. Do not be late again due to your own negligence.
If there are no upcoming flights soon with the airline you missed, you can try buying a new ticket with another airline at the airport. However, usually, there are no discounts because it is a different airline.
Also read: How to Fly for Beginners
Another way to buy cheap flight tickets is to check online ticket applications and look for ongoing promotions. Who knows you might get an attractive price because there are excess tickets.
Those are some procedures for missing a flight that you can do. In fact, to avoid this, you can check in online provided by several airlines. The purpose of online check-in is to remind you/call you when the schedule is approaching departure. Not only that, the purpose of online check-in also speeds up the check-in process, which usually takes about 30 minutes if done manually at the airport.
Author: Iskael
