What happened: On a trip with a connection in Atlanta, your incoming leg was delayed, so you missed the next leg of your flight which, of course, was the last one of the day.

What the airline should do for you: If the delay was the airline’s fault (example: a mechanical problem), request overnight lodging and a meal voucher, plus transportation to and from the hotel. Ask nicely and out of earshot of other passengers, as the airline may not have enough accommodations to go around. There is no law requiring the airline to grant your requests. If the delay was beyond the airline’s control like the result of bad weather or air-traffic congestion, then you may simply be out of luck.

Next time: If possible, don’t take a flight with connections if there’s a nonstop available. If you must take a flight with connections then start your journey first thing in the morning since earlier flights tend to experience fewer delays.

If you absolutely must arrive on time, give yourself extra time in between your connections.