Connecting flights introduce a layer of complexity to EC261 claims that single-leg journeys do not have. The core question is deceptively simple: if you booked a journey with a connection and something went wrong, do you have a claim? The answer depends on how the flights were booked, what exactly happened, and where the disruption occurred.
Single booking vs separate bookings
This is the most important distinction. If your entire journey — including the connection — was booked as a single itinerary with one booking reference, EC261 treats it as one journey from your origin to your final destination. If you booked each leg separately (different booking references or different airlines), each leg is treated as an independent flight.
The difference is significant. On a single booking, if a delay on the first leg causes you to miss your connection and arrive at your final destination more than three hours late, you have a claim for the full journey. On separate bookings, only the individual disrupted flight is assessed — missing the second flight because the first one was late is, legally speaking, your problem.
| Single booking | Separate bookings |
|---|---|
Entire journey treated as one trip |
Each flight assessed independently |
Delay measured at final destination |
Delay measured at each leg's destination |
Airline responsible for the connection |
You bear the connection risk |
Distance based on origin → final destination |
Distance based on each individual leg |
Missed connections on a single booking
If your first flight was delayed and you missed your connection as a result, the airline operating the first leg is typically responsible. What matters is not the delay on the first leg itself, but the delay at your final destination. If you eventually arrive more than three hours late at your final destination, you have a claim, even if the first leg was only delayed by 45 minutes, just enough to make you miss a tight connection.
The compensation amount is based on the great-circle distance between your origin and final destination, not the distance of the individual legs. A journey from Amsterdam to Sydney via Dubai, booked as a single itinerary, is assessed on the Amsterdam-to-Sydney distance, firmly in the €600 tier.
Which airline to claim from
On a single booking, direct your claim at the airline — specifically the operating carrier — whose delay caused you to miss the connection. This is usually the airline that operated the first leg. However, if the connection was handled by a different carrier and the issue was on their end (for example, a cancelled onward flight), your claim would be against that carrier.
If the same airline group operated both legs (even under different brand names), they are generally treated as one entity for claims purposes. If different airline groups were involved, direct your claim at the one responsible for the disruption.
Keep records of the connection
If you miss a connection, note the exact time you arrived at the connecting airport, whether you had a realistic chance of making the second flight, and what assistance (if any) the airline provided. Ask the airline to rebook you at the earliest opportunity and document all communications.
Self-connecting flights
If you booked flights separately to create your own connection, perhaps combining a Ryanair flight to a hub with a separate Lufthansa flight onward, you bear the risk. Neither airline is responsible for the connection, and a delay on the first flight that causes you to miss the second does not create a claim against either carrier for the missed connection. You would only have a claim against the first airline if that individual flight meets the EC261 criteria on its own merits.
This is a significant risk with self-connecting itineraries, and one that should factor into your booking decisions. The money saved by booking separately can be far outweighed by the cost of rebooking if things go wrong.