What To Do If I Miss My Flight? 5 Tips for Keeping Calm and Handling the Situation

Okay, so the worst travel nightmare has struck – you missed your flight, so uh, now what? Don't panic– no entres en pánico! Whether it's your first time or you're simply dreading the possibility, remember: missing a flight isn’t the end of the world, even though it can feel that way at the moment. 

Take it from me. After seven years of being a seasoned traveler (or so I thought!) I had my first “missed flight incident” in November 2022. I was heading from the Tijuana Airport (Cross Border Express, CBX) to CDMX to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos in beautiful Puebla, Mexico. Planning for a restful pre-flight night, I drove from my hometown of Los Angeles to sunny San Diego the day before.

My travel morning started smoothly. I woke up at 5:00 a.m., showered, prepped, grabbed coffee at a local Starbucks, and hit the road for the 30-minute drive to the CBX  into the Tijuana Airport. Despite my 8:30 a.m. flight quickly approaching, I was confident that arriving at 6:55 a.m. at the airport would cause me no problems. And so I calmly parked my car and finished applying my makeup before heading to the CBX check-in line.  

By 7:15 a.m., my heart sank as I entered the immigration area, needing to cross from San Diego into the Tijuana Airport using CBX service. All I saw was an endless line of travelers. I knew I would not make it out of this section on time and feared my flight was doomed. Well, I spent nearly 45-50 minutes within this immigration line and still  had a glimmer of hope to reach my flight since I had 30 minutes to spare before its take off.

Once out of the immigration line, I raced towards the Volaris check-in counter only to discover yet another huge line! Being a relentless mujer, however, I bypassed the line and reached a Volaris flight agent, pleading with them to allow me to check-in so I could race my way to my flight (at this point I had 20 min. Before the gate closed and flight departed).  Unfortunately, my pleading did not help and I had to come to terms with the fact that the scariest thing that could possibly happen to a traveler, happened to me. Indeed, I missed my flight, the first one ever in my life!

So, you would think I would have learned my lesson, right? Well, yes and no. I recently took a trip to the Dominican Republic and almost missed the second flight of my life, but that is a story for another day. The moral here is this, while missing a flight isn't ideal, it's rarely the end of the world. Here are 5 tips on how to turn panic into a plan when missing a flight:

TIP 1: Keep Calm– Breathe and Assess Your Options

Even though your levels of anxiety and panic may be high when missing a flight, when you maintain an essence of calmness and serenity, you are better able to make rational decisions regarding what comes next. Take a deep breath and assess the situation and all possible options. Can you rebook on the same flight for a later time? Is there another flight leaving soon? Explore all your options calmly. Furthermore, by remaining calm, you ensure to treat those around you, specially flight attendants and personal, kindly and respectfully. Thus, allowing more room to create an action plan with flight personnel who can support you in this stressful time. 

TIP 2: Know and Believe that Flight Personnel Are on your Team

No one wins when an agitated traveler who missed their flight takes out their anger on flight attendants and personnel. Sure, anger is a natural response to an unpleasant event like this one, but keep in mind that taking out your anger on folks who are supposed to be on your team is not a good idea. Instead of reacting harshly, kindly and respectfully talk to the flight attendants to come up with solutions. From my experience missing my Volaris flight to CDMX at the Tijuana Airport, speaking kindly and respectfully to the Volaris agent allowed her to find me a seat on a heavily booked flight later that day (at 3:00 p.m.) free of charge. I am certain that had I taken out my anger on her, an unfavorable outcome could have emerged, like having to pay for the change of flight or not being able to find one that same day. Essentially, in most cases, flight attendants and personnel are on our team. Be polite and persistent, it can go a long way!

TIP 3: Long Wait Time? Join a Lounge!

Sometimes, missed flights can lead to hidden gems, ahem, enter airport lounges. When I missed my flight at the Tijuana Airport, I took this opportunity to explore my surroundings and discovered the Tijuana VIP Lounge. While access to the TJX Airport VIP Lounge is free for Priority Pass card holders, those without can still access the VIP Lounge for a fee of 620 MXN pesos, or approximately $37-$40 USD. In my sincere opinion, fees to airport lounges are well worth it given most lounges include: access to a relaxed, less hectic waiting lounge with comfortable seats, free food and beverages (including alcoholic ones), pampering services in some cases like manicures, hairstyling, and massages, access to internet, access to flight information so you do not miss your flight, entertainment, and more. Of course, each lounge has their own unique offerings and prices, but I was delighted to discover the world of lounges thanks to my dreaded missed flight! My travel life has truly never been the same since. 

TIP 4: Ensure ALL Necessary Paperwork Is Completed Beforehand

In some cases, international travel will require you to fill out immigration or online e-tickets before being able to board the flight (e.g. traveling to the Dominican Republic, Aruba, etc.). To ensure all travel plans go smoothly, double check that you have completed all required electronic and immigration paperwork beforehand. Typically, airlines will send you emails with this information, so make sure to read every preflight email thoroughly. I personally like to fill out my electronic, immigration paperwork at least 1-2 days before my flight and typically do it on my cell phone so I can capture screenshots, in case they are needed the day of. Always, make sure your travel documents are in order and have an organized system so that you are ready to go!

TIP 5: Por Si Acaso, Always Be Prepared with Essentials

Y de piloncito, tip #5 to navigate a missed flight situation includes a little preparation. Por si acaso, always be prepared to travel with essentials that will keep you entertained, both during the waiting area and the flight! My recommendation is to have a few favorite Podcasts downloaded onto your phone or iPad, also make sure you have good musical playlists and at least 1-3 Netflix shows/movies pre-downloaded and ready to be seen on demand. Furthermore, as a mujer who loves her books, journals, and writing, I would also recommend to pack a journal or coloring book, along with fun colored pens and coloring pencils, por si acaso. 

Well mujer, there you have it, those are my 5 tips on how to keep calm when experiencing a missed flight. Also, always Remember that while missing a flight can be stressful,  it doesn't have to ruin your whole trip. Stay calm, assess your options, follow these tips, and embrace the unexpected. You might just discover a new adventure!

Con Amor y Aventura,

Angelica

PS: Here is the beautiful night view I would have missed had I taken my original daytime flight!