What happens if I miss my connecting flight?
It depends almost entirely on whether the connection was on a single ticket or two separate ones. This distinction matters more than any other in air travel and is worth understanding before you book.
On a single ticket — one booking, one reference, even if different airlines operate the legs — the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If the first leg is delayed and you miss the connection, you are rebooked on the next available flight at no charge. Depending on the jurisdiction and the cause, you may also be entitled to meals, accommodation and compensation. You are protected because the airline sold you the whole journey.
On separate tickets, you have bought two unrelated contracts. If the first airline delivers you late, it has fulfilled its contract. The second airline has no obligation whatsoever, and a missed flight is simply a no-show. You buy a new ticket. Travel insurance may cover it; the airline will not.
This is the hidden cost of the cheaper itineraries that booking sites assemble from separate fares. The saving is real, and so is the risk.
Practical steps if it happens: go to the airline's transfer desk rather than leaving the airport, and do it immediately — rebooking is easier before the flight departs than after. Keep boarding passes and delay documentation, since claims need proof of the cause.
Check the minimum connection time at your transfer airport when booking. An hour is comfortable at a small airport and tight at a large one requiring a terminal change and re-screening.
Entitlements vary by region, so check the rules that apply to your route.