How to check no-show and missed flight conditions of carriage

What counts as a no-show?

A no-show means a passenger does not take a booked flight and does not cancel the booking before departure. The booking is not flown and is not cancelled beforehand.

On the British Airways legal page, the stated factor for flights booked on ba.com is the operator of the flight(s): the page says the applicable General Conditions of Carriage depend on that operator. [4] The page then lists two operator cases. [4]

Which conditions of carriage does British Airways name?

For flights booked on ba.com, the British Airways page states: “The General Conditions of Carriage applicable to flight(s) booked on ba.com will depend upon the operator of your flight(s).” [4]

The page then sets out two cases. For flights operated by British Airways Plc, the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage will apply. [4] For flights operated by one of its codeshare partners, the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage will apply. [4] In both cases, the document named on the page is the same: the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage. [4]

The page also provides links to view the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage and to find out about codeshare partners. [4]

Where American Airlines lists its conditions of carriage

American Airlines lists Conditions of carriage in the navigation of aa.com, alongside Receipts and refunds, Bag and optional fees, Customer service plan, Tarmac delay contingency plan, FAQs and Contact. [2]

The same navigation lists Conditions of carriage separately from Receipts and refunds and from Bag and optional fees. [2]

What to check before you contact the airline

For flights booked on ba.com, the British Airways page makes the operator of the flight(s) the stated factor in which General Conditions of Carriage apply. [4] The useful preparation is factual rather than legal. Note the following:

• The operating airline for the flight, because the British Airways page states that the applicable General Conditions of Carriage depend on the operator of the flight(s). [4]
• The booking reference and the date and scheduled departure time of the segment that was not flown.
• The conditions of carriage named on the airline’s own page: British Airways names the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage [4], and American Airlines lists Conditions of carriage in its site navigation [2].

The British Airways page cited here is the airline’s own legal page and links to the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage. [4] The American Airlines page cited here is a navigation page that lists Conditions of carriage among other customer-service links. [2]

Scope and limits

• Scope. This page defines a no-show and covers only the conditions-of-carriage material named on the cited airline pages; it does not give no-show consequences, rebooking rights or refund rights.
• British Airways page. On the BA page, the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage are stated to apply both to flights operated by British Airways Plc and to flights operated by BA’s codeshare partners. [4]
• American Airlines navigation. American Airlines lists Conditions of carriage separately from Receipts and refunds and from Bag and optional fees. [2]
• No valuation. This page does not estimate a cash value for a forfeited seat or a no-show charge.

Frequently asked questions

Do you lose the whole ticket if you miss a flight?

This page does not cover that question. For flights booked on ba.com, the British Airways page states that the applicable General Conditions of Carriage depend on the operator of the flight(s). [4]

Which airline’s rules apply if a codeshare partner operates the flight?

For flights booked on ba.com, the British Airways page states that the British Airways General Conditions of Carriage apply both to flights operated by British Airways Plc and to flights operated by its codeshare partners. [4]

Where can I read American Airlines’ conditions of carriage?

American Airlines lists Conditions of carriage in the navigation of aa.com, alongside Receipts and refunds, Bag and optional fees, Customer service plan and Tarmac delay contingency plan. [2]

Is a no-show the same as a cancellation?

A cancellation ends the booking before departure; a no-show leaves the booking unused because the passenger does not fly and does not cancel beforehand.

Related pages

Terms: no-show, no-show fee, cancellation deadline, refund vs travel credit. Guides: airline fee and credit guide, US flight cancellation and refund guide. Browse all entries in the glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026.

1. American Airlines conditions of carriage, checked 18 October 2026
2. British Airways General Conditions of Carriage, checked 18 October 2026