If you fly with two different airlines on a single booking, you are protected as on a direct trip: if you miss the connection, the airline must get you to your destination and, if you arrive 3 hours or more late, you may be owed up to €600 compensation. With separate tickets, each flight stands alone and a missed connection is your risk. Here is how to tell which situation you are in and how to protect yourself before booking.
One booking or separate tickets?
| One booking | Separate tickets | |
|---|---|---|
| How to tell | One booking reference for the whole trip | Different references, bought at different times or on different sites |
| If you miss the connection | Alternative flight to your final destination | You have to buy a new ticket |
| Care while you wait | Yes | Only from the airline of the delayed flight |
| Compensation | Based on the delay at final arrival | Only for the delayed flight, if it alone was over 3 hours late |
Many websites sell "combined" itineraries with different airlines on separate bookings: check the conditions before you pay.
Who pays when the flights are with different airlines
With one booking, compensation is paid by the airline that operated the delayed flight that made you miss your connection, even if you bought the ticket from another. On codeshare flights what counts is always the operating airline, shown on your boarding pass ("operated by").
The distance used to work out the amount is from your departure airport to your final destination: €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 up to 3,500 km, €600 beyond.
When the EU Regulation applies
- if the journey departs from an EU airport, it covers every flight on the booking, even with a stopover outside Europe and with non-European airlines;
- if the journey arrives in the EU from outside, it only applies if the delayed flight is operated by a European airline;
- Iceland, Norway and Switzerland count as the EU.
How to protect yourself before booking
- Prefer a single booking, even if it costs a little more.
- With separate tickets, leave plenty of time between flights, especially if you have to collect your bags and check in again.
- Check the guarantees offered by whoever sells the combined itinerary: they are not those of the Regulation.
- Consider insurance that covers missed connections.
If you have missed your connection
With one booking, go to the transfer desk and ask to be rebooked, keep boarding passes and receipts and note your final arrival time. The whole process is in our guide to missed connecting flights. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed compensation: you pay nothing upfront and our fee is 25% + VAT only if you get compensated. The general rules are on our delayed flight page.
Frequently asked questions about flights with different airlines
I have two flights with different airlines on one ticket: who compensates me?
The airline that operated the delayed flight that made you miss your connection.
With separate tickets, does the second airline have to wait for me?
No. To the second airline you are a no-show: you lose the flight and usually the return too if you do not tell them.
The stopover was outside Europe: does the Regulation apply?
Yes, if the journey departed from an EU airport on a single booking.
What is a codeshare flight?
A flight sold by one airline but operated by another. For your rights, the operating airline is what counts.
How long should I leave between two separate flights?
There is no fixed rule, but leave several hours, especially if you need to collect your bags and check in again.
Work out your compensation now
Enter where you flew from and to: in 2 minutes you will know whether you are owed compensation and how much.
- Free check, no commitment
- No upfront costs: 25% + VAT only if we win
- We deal with the airline for you
Find out more
- Air passenger rights
- Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
- Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
- Overbooking: what you are owed
- What our service costs
Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.