Most flights start boarding 30 - 50 minutes before scheduled departure, but the exact time depends on your destination and plane. Boarding ends 15 minutes before departure. If you're not on board, we may reassign your seat to another passenger.

If you miss your designated boarding time but the aircraft has not yet pushed back from the gate, your fate depends on the airline's "boarding door" policy. Most airlines close the gate 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time to finalize weight and balance calculations. If you arrive after the door is closed, the gate agent will not reopen it, as doing so triggers a "delay" that costs the airline thousands of dollars. At this point, you are considered a "no-show." Your checked luggage, if any, will be offloaded for security reasons. Your best course of action is to speak with a gate agent or call the airline immediately. Under many "flat tire" or "goodwill" rules, the airline may rebook you on the next available flight for a fee or even for free if you have a valid reason. However, on budget carriers, you may be required to purchase a completely new ticket. Note that if you miss the first leg of a round-trip journey, many airlines will automatically cancel your return flight unless you notify them.