Airlines cost passengers hundreds of dollars by claiming you were a no-show — whether or not that’s true

Call it a boarding bust.

Airlines can charge customers a “no-show” fee if a passenger has skipped out on their flight. Experts at Going.com shared that a typical no-show fee can range anywhere from $100 up to $200. Although, the price will depend on the airline and fare class.

For example, United Airlines charges a $125 service fee for fliers who miss their flight and need to redeposit award miles.

Similarly, JetBlue tacks on a $50 “Service Charge” for incorrect refunds on no-shows. The company website said if a refund is incorrectly issued for a missed flight, JetBlue will charge the travel agency the refunded amount plus an additional $50 fee.

But what happens if a passenger is charged a no-show fee while on the flight? For one traveler, Teresa McGee, American Airlines forced her to purchase another ticket after incorrectly labeling her a “no-show.” 

“They couldn’t give me a reason,” McGee told USA Today.

The traveler was heading to Charlotte from Detroit on American Airlines and hit a snag when trying to get home, as an agent told her she didn’t have a ticket, an error on the airline’s part. McGee said the new ticket cost her $572 and would not be refunded for her original ticket.

Another traveler, Dan Skilken, was flying from San Francisco to Paris when a part of the trip was delayed due to bad weather. Skilken missed his flight, but the airline rebooked him for another flight to Paris.

That is, until the agent hit the wrong button, which led to the airline thinking he had missed his connecting flight — a no-show.

“We figured it out when I went online to check our return reservation while in France and discovered we had no tickets,” Skilken told USA Today. He was able to get his refund as Skilken is a travel agent and knows the inner workings of the industry.

The European Union recently voted to ban airlines from cancelling return tickets or adding fees if travelers miss a leg of their flights. The new law specifically tackles no-shows as it aims to “simplify, clarify and strengthen air passenger rights,” the Council said.

However, the new law will be fully implemented next year.

So how can you avoid the dreaded no-show, aside from the obvious showing up? It might be wise to stay in contact with your airlines. This means downloading their apps or reaching out to an airline agent if you need any changes.

Additionally, always keep a record of your flight. This means having a physical or digital copy of your boarding pass to prove that you were on the flight. Another way is by getting travel insurance. It may cost you, but it covers a variety of circumstances and could help you out in a pinch.

It will especially help if a flight is delayed because of weather and a connecting flight is missed.

Another way to evade a no-show fee is simply by canceling your flight. This is because as no-show fee is tacked on as soon as a passenger skips their flight with no warning. However, when a passenger cancels, the airline is notified ahead of time and may even allow for a refund or rebooking.