What should I ask an airline when my first flight is delayed and I have a connection?

Start with the immediate decision: “Given the latest delay estimate, should I still go to my connecting gate, or should I speak with an agent first?” Then ask, “Is my connecting flight still showing as part of my itinerary, and can you tell whether I’m likely to make it?”

Have your booking reference, flight numbers, destination, and current location ready. If you are using the airline’s app or website, compare its trip details with what staff tell you, but ask which information source you should follow if they differ. Do not assume that a delay automatically means the connection has been changed. Ask the airline to confirm the status of your specific reservation.

Ask directly: “If I miss this connection because of the delay, what are my options on this itinerary?” Follow with: “Can you rebook me, and what is the next available option you can offer?” If you are given a proposed flight, confirm the date, departure and arrival airports, connection details, and whether your reservation has actually been updated.

Do not rely on a general promise or estimate as confirmation of a new booking. Ask where you can see the updated itinerary and boarding pass, and what to do if they do not appear. The answer can depend on your airline and reservation. For example, American Airlines says it will rebook a passenger on the next flight with available seats when a cancellation or delay causes a missed connection; that is American-specific guidance, not a guarantee about another airline or every itinerary. [S1]

Use a short, specific script, whether you speak to an agent or contact the airline through a channel it provides:

“Hello. I’m on [first-flight number] to [destination], then [connecting-flight number] to [final destination]. My first flight is delayed. Please check my reservation and tell me: (1) whether the connection is still workable; (2) what to do if I miss it; (3) whether a rebooking is available; and (4) where I should check for updated instructions and trip details.”

After the answer, repeat the key point back: “So I should [next step], and check [channel] for the updated itinerary—is that right?” Note the time, the channel or staff location, the instruction, and any confirmation details you are given. Keep the notes brief; they are a reminder of what you were told, not proof that a change has been completed.

Ask the airline to verify the change against your reservation and tell you exactly where to view it. You can say: “I was told my trip was changed, but I can’t see the new details. Can you confirm the flight numbers and timing now, and tell me where the updated itinerary and boarding pass should appear?” If something still does not match, ask staff or the airline’s support channel to clarify before acting on an assumption.

For American Airlines, its guidance directs customers to review or change a trip in the American app, on aa.com, or at an airport kiosk; it says updated trip details and boarding passes can be accessed through those channels. Check your own reservation and ask your airline what applies if you fly with another carrier. [S1] The guidance does not establish what another airline will offer, how quickly an update will appear, or what applies to every itinerary.