MISSED FLIGHT
I missed my flight:
can I request a refund?
Missed your flight and wondering whether you can get a refund? In most cases, if you miss your flight through your own fault, the airline will not automatically refund the full ticket price.
However, even if the ticket is non-refundable, you can sometimes request a refund of certain taxes and fees linked to a passenger who did not board.
Guides by airline · Message templates · Step-by-step procedure · No guaranteed refund
If you missed your flight, you generally cannot automatically recover the full ticket price, especially if the ticket is non-refundable. However, you can sometimes request a refund of certain taxes and fees linked to the passenger not boarding.
To make the request, you need to identify the correct contact, prepare the ticket information and send a clear message that distinguishes the ticket refund from the tax refund.
Missed flight: what you can actually recover
A missed flight does not automatically entitle you to a ticket refund. The airline may consider that the seat was reserved for you and that the ticket remains lost if the fare conditions do not provide for a refund.
But the price of a plane ticket includes several elements. Some relate to the transport itself, others to taxes or fees. This is why a lost or non-refundable ticket can sometimes lead to a partial refund request on the taxes.
Definition: what is a missed flight?
A missed flight is a situation where the passenger did not board a scheduled flight even though the flight actually operated. This can happen if:
- –you arrived too late at the airport
- –you missed check-in or boarding
- –you had a transport problem getting to the airport
- –you got the date or time wrong
- –you were absent at departure time
This is often referred to as a "no-show", meaning a passenger who does not show up for the flight.
Definition: what can you request after a missed flight?
After a missed flight, you can sometimes request a refund of certain taxes and fees included in the ticket if you did not board. This does not mean the full ticket price will be refunded.
The request generally concerns taxes or fees whose applicability depends on the passenger actually boarding.
Key facts
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Situation | Missed flight / absent passenger / no-show |
| Full ticket price | Generally non-refundable depending on the conditions |
| Potentially recoverable taxes | Certain airport taxes and passenger fees |
| Automatic request | No, you often need to make it yourself |
| Contact | Airline or agency depending on the purchase channel |
| French legal deadline | Refund within 30 days of the request being received |
| Offline fees | Maximum 20% of the amount refunded in France |
| Refund guaranteed? | No |
What you can request after missing your flight
| Item paid | Can it be recovered? | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket price excluding taxes | Often not | Depends on the fare and the airline's conditions |
| Airport tax | Yes, in certain cases | Mentioned by Service-Public in the case of a no-show |
| Passenger fee | Yes, in certain cases | Also mentioned by Service-Public |
| Carrier surcharge | Often not | Not always considered a refundable tax |
| Baggage / seat | Generally not | Options separate from the unused transport |
| New ticket | No | Must be bought separately if you want to travel later |
What French regulations say
In France, article L224-66 of the Consumer Code regulates the refund of itemized taxes and fees whose applicability depends on the passenger actually boarding, when the ticket is no longer valid and was not used for transport. The refund must be made within a maximum of 30 days after the request is received.
The request can be submitted by any means, including online. When submitted online, the refund is free. If the request is made by another means, the fees cannot exceed 20% of the amount refunded.
How to request a tax refund after a missed flight?
The exact procedure may vary, but the general logic remains the same.
Check why you missed the flight
Arriving too late, missed check-in, missed boarding: do not confuse a flight you missed yourself with a cancelled flight or a denied boarding.
Check whether the ticket is lost or reusable
Check whether you have a flexible ticket, a "Flex" option, cancellation insurance or travel coverage linked to your credit card.
Check the purchase channel
Directly from the airline (account area, "My bookings") or via an agency/OTA (Opodo, eDreams, Expedia, Booking, Trip.com).
Prepare the necessary information
Passenger name, booking reference, ticket number, flight number, flight date and time, booking email and detail of the price paid.
Word a request targeted at the taxes
"I missed my flight, I want a refund" is too vague: specifically request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees.
Keep proof of your request
A copy of the message, the date sent, a screenshot of the form, an acknowledgment of receipt and any replies received.
Follow up if necessary
In France, article L224-66 states that the refund of the relevant taxes and fees must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received.
Message template after a missed flight
Subject: Request for a refund of recoverable taxes – missed flight / unused ticket
Hello,
I would like to request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees linked to a plane ticket that I did not use after missing my flight.
Passenger name:
Booking reference:
Ticket number:
Flight number:
Flight date:
Flight time:
Email address used for the booking:
I would like to clarify that I did not board this flight.
Best regards,
If you missed a connection due to a delay caused by the airline, do not treat your situation as a simple missed flight.
Common mistakes to avoid after a missed flight
Requesting only a full ticket refund
If the ticket is non-refundable, this request may be refused without any specific handling of the taxes.
Forgetting to request the taxes separately
Even if the ticket price is lost, certain taxes can sometimes still be recoverable.
Contacting the wrong party
If you bought via an agency, the request may need to be sent to the agency rather than the airline.
Not checking insurance or your credit card
Some travel insurance or credit card coverage may cover specific reasons, with their own conditions and deadlines.
Guides available for your airline
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Premium guides give you a procedure tailored to each airline, with a message template and mistakes to avoid.
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Special case: you missed a connection
A missed connection can be handled differently depending on whether the flights were on the same ticket or on separate tickets.
- –connection on the same ticket: the airline may have obligations depending on the cause of the delay
- –connection on separate tickets: the second flight may be considered missed through your own fault
- –first flight delayed by the airline: possible passenger rights depending on the context
Special case: return flight after a missed outbound flight
If you miss your outbound flight, check right away whether your return flight remains active. Some airlines may cancel the remaining segments in the case of a no-show on the first segment.
Special case: flight cancelled or delayed by the airline
If your flight was cancelled or heavily delayed by the airline, you are not in the typical case of a missed flight. The French Ministry of the Economy notes that in the case of a cancelled flight, the airline must offer another flight or a ticket refund in certain cases; compensation may also be owed depending on the distance and circumstances.
What our guides do not guarantee
- –that the airline will accept your request
- –that the ticket price will be refunded
- –a specific processing time
- –coverage by insurance or a credit card
The refund depends on the airline, the ticket, the country of departure, the taxes actually paid, the purchase channel and the applicable conditions.
Independent site, not affiliated with any airline
Flight Tax Refund is an independent site. The site is not affiliated with Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Air France, KLM or any other airline mentioned.
Our guides are practical informational resources. They do not constitute personalized legal advice and do not guarantee that you will obtain a refund.
In summary
- –If you missed your flight, the full ticket price is generally not automatically refunded.
- –Even with a non-refundable ticket, certain taxes and fees can be requested in the case of a no-show.
- –In France, the refund of the relevant taxes must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received.
- –The online request is free in France; offline fees are capped at 20% of the amount refunded.
- –The correct contact depends on the purchase channel: the airline or the agency.
- –No refund is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions about missed flights and refunds
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Useful sources
- – Service-Public.fr: can you get a refund for your plane ticket if you miss or cancel your flight?
- – Service-Public.fr: template to claim a refund of the airport tax and passenger fee
- – Légifrance: French Consumer Code, article L224-66
- – INC Conso: recovering taxes and fees after a flight cancellation
- – French Ministry of the Economy: rights in the event of a cancelled or delayed flight