Whether an airline will hold a connecting flight is entirely at the carrier's discretion, and in 2026, it is increasingly rare. Airlines prioritize "on-time performance" (OTP) because a delay in one flight can ripple through their entire network, causing missed connections for hundreds of other passengers and incurring heavy fines at busy hubs. If your first flight is delayed by only 5–10 minutes and many passengers are connecting to the same secondary flight, the gate agent might hold the door. However, if you are the only one delayed or if the delay exceeds 15 minutes, they will likely close the doors and rebook you on the next available service. If you are on a "protected" connection (booked on a single ticket), the airline is responsible for getting you to your destination, but they are not legally obligated to hold the plane for you. Your best bet is to alert a flight attendant on your first leg; they can sometimes radio ahead to the gate, but even then, a "hold" is never guaranteed.