Is It Better to No Show or Cancel a Flight?
Is it better to no-show or cancel a flight?
When travel plans fall through, it might seem easier to let your ticket go unused. After all, cancellations can be time-consuming and don’t always guarantee a refund. But is skipping your flight the best option?
Understanding the difference between cancelling and no-showing is key. In this article, we’ll break down what each option means, the risks involved and how you might be able to recover some of your costs, so you can make the right decision for your trip.
What is a no-show?
A no-show is a passenger who misses their flight without informing the airline in advance. It’s most common when:
- Travel plans change last minute and cancelling feels like a hassle
- The ticket is non-refundable, offering little incentive to cancel
- The passenger assumes there's no benefit in alerting the airline
Airlines do account for a small number of no-shows, knowing plans aren’t always set in stone. However, making a habit of it, especially as a frequent flyer, can lead to penalties, reduced loyalty perks or being flagged in the system.
Are there penalties for no-showing a flight?
Airlines take flight attendance seriously, and missing your flight without cancelling can have consequences, especially if it’s part of a larger itinerary.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Connecting flights are cancelled: If you miss a leg of your journey, the rest of your itinerary is usually voided. This includes return or onward flights booked on the same ticket.
- Rebooking may not be possible: Once flagged as a no-show, you could lose your seat and may not be able to rebook if the flight is full or unavailable.
- Repeat offenders may be penalised: While a one-off no-show often carries no extra fee, frequent no-show behaviour can result in added charges, particularly if it’s linked to skip-lagging (intentionally skipping legs of a journey to get lower fares).
Each airline outlines its no-show policy in its Contract of Carriage, provided at the time of booking. For a deeper breakdown, see our full article on airline no-show policies.
Is it better to cancel than to no-show?
In most cases, yes - cancelling your flight is better than no-showing.
While skipping the flight without notice may seem easier, it usually means forfeiting any protections or refund options you might be entitled to. On the other hand, many airlines offer partial refunds, flight credits or rebooking options if you actively cancel in advance.
Here’s why cancellation is the smarter choice:
- You may recover some value: Airlines sometimes offer credits or refunds, especially if you cancel early.
- Protection packages can help: If you’ve purchased add-ons like Cancellation Protection through Alternative Airlines, cancelling is essential to claim compensation.
- It shows good travel etiquette: Cancelling informs the airline, frees up your seat and avoids being flagged as a repeat no-show.
If you’ve bought any form of travel protection, cancelling rather than no-showing is the only way to retain those benefits.
What should I do if I’m late for my flight?
Running late doesn’t automatically count as a no-show, but it’s important to act quickly.
If you suspect you won’t make it to the gate on time, here’s what to do:
- Contact us and the airline immediately - Let us know your situation. Some airlines offer a “flat tyre rule” or allow same-day standby for late arrivals.
- Ask about rebooking - Depending on the fare rules and availability, we might be able to move you to the next available flight.
- Check for partial refunds - If rebooking isn’t possible, you may be eligible for a refund or credit. This varies by airline.
If you booked with Alternative Airlines and added Cancellation Protection, you may be covered if you miss your flight due to an emergency, including transport issues, injury or even a court summons.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you skip legs of your flight?
Even though airlines despise it, there is nothing strictly against the law about skipping legs of your flight if you want to. This behaviour (known as skiplagging) is considered poor conduct by airlines, and if done repeatedly it could lead to in a breach of the airlines T&Cs, resulting in fines or other punitive action.
What if you want to change your flight rather than cancel it?
If you would prefer to alter the details of your flight rather than change it, you will first want to check that you are within the threshold where you are allowed to do so. If you are within the window, most airlines will allow you to edit the details of your flight through their booking portal, or through contact with their customer service team. If you want more details on the process of rebooking your flight, check out our article on how to rebook a flight.
Is it possible to get a refund on a ticket where you no showed?
In short: No, most airlines will stipulate in their Contract of Carriage that if you No Show on the date of your departure, your ticket becomes non refundable. This is to prevent skiplagging and protect the airline from people abusing last minute cancellations.
How do you know if cancelling your flight will result in a refund?
There are a few ways to find out whether your ticket qualifies for a refund upon cancellation. Firstly, if the airline cancels your flight, you will always be entitled to a refund, or transference onto the next available flight. If you want to cancel your flight and get a refund, then you should check your airlines cancellation policy in their Contract of Carriage. There it will outline when you can cancel, what you can expect to receive in return and all the associated terms and conditions.