miss a connection

Meaning

This means to arrive too late to catch a connecting flight, train, or bus because your previous transport was delayed. It is a common travel frustration.

Examples

• Because our first flight was delayed, we are going to miss a connection in Chicago.

  Because our first flight was delayed, we are going to miss a connection in Chicago.

• If you miss a connection, the airline is usually responsible for rebooking you.

  If you miss a connection, the airline is usually responsible for rebooking you.

• We had to run through the airport so we wouldn't miss our connection.

  We had to run through the airport so we wouldn't miss our connection.

• She was worried that a thirty-minute layover was too short and she would miss a connection.

  She was worried that a thirty-minute layover was too short and she would miss a connection.

• I missed my connection in Paris and had to spend the night at a hotel near the airport.

  I missed my connection in Paris and had to spend the night at a hotel near the airport.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I lost my connection because the train was late.

  ✓ I missed my connection because the train was late.

  Use the verb 'miss' rather than 'lose' when you fail to catch transport.

• ✗ If the flight is delayed, we will miss our connect.

  ✓ If the flight is delayed, we will miss our connection.

  'Connection' is the noun form needed here, not the verb 'connect'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• A short layover increases the risk that you will ___.

  💡 Fail to board the next flight or train because of a delay.

  Show answer

  miss a connection

• The airline rebooked me for free after I had to ___.

  💡 Fail to catch your next flight due to delays.

  Show answer

  miss a connection