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The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) has issued passengers with information on problems related to missing connections.

Part of this advice is that passengers should not by two separate tickets to create an artificial connection. This system effectively replaces one contract between a passenger and an airline with two that do not have any relation to one another.

Tina Tietjen, the chairman of the council, explains: 'Our advice to passengers who do this is simple: don't risk it, missing such a connecting flight usually means having to buy a new ticket, often at a more expensive, last minute fare, and paying for any meals and accommodation.'

Ms Tietjen adds that there are a number of airlines that will not pay costs accrued by passengers who miss connections and that operators should 'commit to looking after their customers throughout their journey'.

The chairman also states that complaints from passengers to the AUC show that missing connections can prompt 'stress, inconvenience and expense'.

Bob Tolliday, the travel expert at consumer groups Which?, states that consumers have 'far more rights' if they book one journey rather than separate flights.

Funded by the Civil Aviation Authority, the AUC is the consumer council for air travellers.

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