Smartwings: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim Smartwings compensation online?
Czech airline Smartwings is one of the leading airlines in Central and Eastern Europe. Founded in 2004, it has grown to become a major player in the region. The airline has a fleet of more than 30 airplanes. It is a low-cost airline, and today, in this guide, we are going to talk about air passenger rights with low-cost airlines. What do you have to do if your Smartwings flight is cancelled, delayed or overbooked? What are your rights when it happens?
How to claim Smartwings flight delay compensation?
How to claim Smartwings flight cancellation compensation?
Check your compensation online!
Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.
Here are 5 main topics that we will focus on:
1. How to claim Smartwings flight delay compensation?
2. How to claim Smartwings flight cancellation compensation?
3. How to claim Smartwings denied boarding compensation?
4. What to do if your flight is delayed?
5. What to do if your flight is cancelled?
UK / EU air passenger rights
Air passenger rights are almost identical in the EU, EEA and UK.
That's why we may refer to them simply as European air passenger rights, and use terms like European flight compensation and European flight compensation regulation. We may also use a word "Europe" to refer to this whole region, where the flight compensation regulations EC 261/2004 and UK261 are in effect.
- With European airlines these rules apply to all flights to and from Europe
- With non-European airlines — flights departing from Europe
1. Smartwings compensation: How to claim Smartwings flight delay compensation?
There are two conditions that should be met.
Conditions:
- It must be fault of Smartwings
- Delay must be 3+ hours
If this is what happened with your flight, you may have a right to EU flight delay compensation. If you file a claim for compensation, you may receive up to 600 euro per passenger. There are two options how to claim Smartwings compensation for flight delay.
1. You can do it all on your own.
If you have time and want the cheapest option, this is it.
You contact the airline and deal with everything yourself. To be more prepared in your negotiations, make sure to check out this list of strategies airlines use to avoid paying passengers flight compensation.
Contact us for legal help with Smartwings claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
This, on the other hand, is the easiest of the options you have.
You register the claim with us and we do the job. We act as your legal representatives in everything related to flight compensation claim. All you do is fill this one UK / EU flight compensation form, the one linked throughout on our website.
In this case, everything is handled by professionals.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
That is all from you. We will do the rest.
Learn more about EU flight delay compensation.
- How long does it take?
European air travel compensation claims take around 3 months.
In this case, we are referring to our own experience as a flight compensation company. If you do it on your own, and this is your first time making a claim for airline compensation, it may take you also significantly longer than this, though it isn’t always the case. You see, some claims are simpler than others and take less time to be solved.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
You can claim flight delay compensation for up to 3 years.
That’s the average number in Europe. But it differs from country to country. In some countries, if your flight departed from there, you can claim for compensation only up to 2 years after the flight delay or cancellation. This is something to be taken into account.
Generally speaking — you can get compensation also for old flights.
But you have to refer to the local laws.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
Absolutely no, you don’t have to be European.
With air travel regulations, all passengers are equally protected.
You don't have to be European to have these rights.
- How much can you claim?
The longer the flight, the more you can claim for delay.
Mostly the amounts are between 250 to 600 euro per passenger.
These amounts are the same for all passengers travelling on the same flight. No matter the nationality, airline you are flying with, price of the ticket or travel insurance. In the EU and UK, even infants can receive full flight compensation.
2. Smartwings compensation: How to claim Smartwings flight cancellation compensation?
There are two conditions that should be met.
Conditions:
- It must be fault of Smartwings
- It must be a last-minute flight cancellation
If a flight is cancelled not more than 14 days before the planned date of departure, then it’s considered a last-minute cancellation, and you have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation. There are two options how to claim Smartwings compensation for cancellation.
1. You can do it all on your own.
If you have time and want the cheapest option, this is it.
First, you contact customer service of Smartwings. Email or web form usually are the best for this. Because you want to have an easy to save proof of your communication with the airline. Then, you negotiate with them, you provide all the necessary details and documents. Be prepared to wait. If the case is more complex, be prepared also for refusal to cooperate.
Contact us for legal help with Smartwings claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
You fill in a single form on our website.
We do the job on your behalf. That’s it.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
We will do the rest.
Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.
- How long does it take?
If you work with us it takes around 3 months.
If you do it on your own — about the same or more, but it will depend on your communication skills. You may have to be persistent in order to prove that you have the right to compensation.
- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?
In the EU countries, the average is around 3 years.
For up to 3 years after the flight cancellation, or delay, you can make a claim for compensation. You have to refer to laws of the country your flight is from, not the country that you are from. Unless the country you are flying from is outside the EU, UK and EEA, then you refer to laws of the country you were flying to.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, this law applies to all travellers, to everyone.
That’s the thinking behind it — to protect everyone equally.
- How much can you claim?
The amounts are regulated by the above mentioned regulations.
Here is how much you can claim for your flight:
- €250 — if the distance of your flight is up to 1500 kilometres;
- €400 — if the distance is between 1500 to 3500 kilometres;
- €600 — if the distance is more than 3500 kilometres.
These amounts are per passenger.
They are the same for all passengers.
3. How to claim Smartwings denied boarding compensation?
You may get denied boarding even if you have a valid ticket.
It may happen if the airline has sold too many tickets. Whenever you are denied boarding against your will, you have a right to EU denied boarding compensation.
With Smartwings it applies to all their flights to and from Europe.
Compensation amounts are fixed — 250, 400 or 600 euro.
In these situations, mostly you can get both:
- new flight to destination or refund
- denied boarding compensation
It applies only to overbooking. If there are problems with your travel documents or visa, or your passport expires soon, you can’t get denied boarding compensation. You also won’t be entitled to denied boarding compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat, and agree to fly later.
Check your compensation online!
Learn more about EU denied boarding compensation.
3.1 Why does overbooking happen?
Overbooking is a practice airlines use to maximize their profits.
Airlines have found that some passengers do not show up for their flights, so they occasionally oversell their flights in anticipation of those no-shows. By doing this, airlines can make sure all the seats on the plane are filled and generate additional revenue from passengers who purchased those extra tickets. However, if everyone shows up for the flight then overbooking can lead to problems such as delays or having to deny boarding to one or more customers.
Have you experienced that?
3.2 Voluntary vs involuntary denied boarding
What’s the difference between voluntary and involuntary denied boarding?
There are situations when you aren’t given any choice.
You are denied boarding and given a new flight. This is called "involuntary denied boarding". And in this case, you have a right to UK/EU denied boarding compensation.
You may also decide to volunteer and fly later.
People do that all the time. You may also do so.
If the offer of the airline is good, sometimes it makes a lot of sense to give up the seat and fly later. Airlines offer all kinds of benefits to people willing to do so. This is called "voluntary denied boarding" (if you decide to volunteer). And in this case, you won’t be entitled to denied boarding compensation from Smartwings.
4. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
Your flight is delayed. What should you do?
No one enjoys flight delays, yet they are a common occurrence while flying. To make the most of this distressing situation and minimize disruption to your plans, it's crucial to understand what steps you can take. In this section we'll discuss some helpful advice on how to manage flight delays so that you can get back on track as quickly as possible.
4.1 If you are still at home
Are you still at home or hotel?
If check in is going to be delayed, wait for a while.
If check in isn't delayed, go to the airport as normally.
Do you have another flight you may miss?
If it’s a separately booked flight, this is your responsibility. Flights like these are called self-transfer flights. With low-cost airlines this is what you mostly have. And if something goes wrong, this is up to you to find a solution.
So, here is why people love "proper connecting flights".
4.2 If you are already at the airport
You have already arrived at the airport.
If check in hasn’t started, for now just wait.
Even if you have already checked in. Why? Just to be on the safe side. Because, you see, your flight may also get cancelled. Delays sometimes turn into cancellations. Frustrating, yes, but it happens. So, at first, just wait until the check in desks for your flight are opened.
If check in has started, that’s a good sign.
Mostly that’s a sign that everything is going to be okay.
You can check in and proceed through airport security.
- 3 hour flight delay
Smartwings is a European airline.
And that means you are protected by the EU.
If you have to wait at the airport more than planned, due to delay or cancellation, you may have a right to care from your airline. After 3+ hours of waiting at the airport, Smartwings has to provide you with free phone calls or e-mails (or internet access) and also a free meal and drink.
This applies to all Smartwings flights to and from Europe.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
If the delay is longer, you may also get a hotel room.
Smartwings has to offer you free hotel room and free transfer.
Everyone has the right to this type of care.
4.3 If it is the fault of Smartwings
It includes things like technical problems and staff shortage.
You may also be entitled to EU flight delay compensation.
Have you experienced a flight delay?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
4.4 Why do flights get delayed?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get delayed.
5. What to do if your flight is CANCELLED?
Your flight is cancelled. What should you do?
Will Smartwings provide you with a complimentary flight to your original destination? Could there be an associated fee for that? Under what conditions can you request compensation from them? These are the questions we are going to answer here, in this section.
5.1 If you are still at home
You need to find out what’s happening next.
Contact Smartwings, if they haven’t yet contacted you.
Mostly you will have to choose: a new flight or refund?
If it’s fault of the airline, you may have a right to compensation.
Scroll back to learn more about compensation.
5.2 If you are already at the airport
Don’t go through the airport security.
The majority don’t realize that, or simply forget about that, but — your flight is cancelled. And if a flight is cancelled, a ticket isn’t valid anymore too. You can’t go anywhere with your original flight ticket or your boarding pass that you have got. You have to wait for the airline to offer you a new flight, and you have to get a new boarding pass for that flight first.
Or, you can also ask for a full refund. You have a right to that.
Ask for a refund, if you don’t want to take the new flight.
- 3 hour flight delay
Smartwings is an airline registered in the EU.
And that means you are protected by the EU.
If your flight is late or cancelled, and you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to certain services from the airline. After 3 hours, or it may also happen sooner, the airline has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails (or internet access) and also a free meal and drink.
Cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances?
This applies to all Smartwings flight cancellations.
All thanks to European flight compensation regulations.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
In this case, you have a right to free accommodation.
Passengers are entitled to free hotel accommodation and complimentary transport when they experience longer flight delays, but the assessment is made on a case-by-case basis.
What it means is that an airline may decide not to provide such amenities if, for instance, it would take them two or three hours just to get every passenger safely settled in a nearby hotel, while the total waiting time is only six hours. Imagine, you are taken to a hotel, and then brought back to airport right away — doesn’t make any sense, right? So, sometimes, they just don’t offer that.
5.3 If it is the fault of Smartwings
That includes things like technical problems and bad planning.
If that causes a cancellation, it is considered fault of the airline.
And you may also be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation.
Have you experienced a flight cancellation?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
5.4 Why do flights get cancelled?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get cancelled.
By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Remember, whenever your Smartwings flight is delayed, cancelled or you have been denied boarding — you might be entitled to flight compensation. File a claim to get it sorted out right away!