Smartwings Flight Delay Compensation

Smartwings flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

There are situations when you are entitled to flight delay compensation. If your flight meets certain requirements, it is eligible to compensation. It doesn’t matter what is your age, nationality, price of your ticket, or whether or not you have travel insurance. If your flight is eligible, you can get flight delay compensation from Smartwings. There are certain laws in the EU, and Smartwings has to follow these laws. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Smartwings Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

There are regulations in the EU and the UK that protect air passengers in the event of flight delay, flight cancellation and denied boarding. These regulations state that a passenger might be entitled to compensation if they reach their destination 3+ hours later, and if the delay is due to the airline’s fault. 

If you’re flying to or from Europe, your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Smartwings, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600.

Could you be entitled to Smartwings flight delay compensation?

Yes, if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to the fault of Smartwings;
• Flight is to/from Europe.

So, all the above mentioned rules apply to all Smartwings delays and cancellations.

If you are flying with a non-EU airline such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, etc., it applies only to flights departing from the EU.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation. 

Extraordinary circumstances are bad weather, natural disaster, civil unrest, terrorism threat and security issues at the airport. Just to name a few. These events are out of the airline’s control. If your Smartwings flight is delayed due to any of these events, you won’t get Smartwings flight delay compensation.

How about strikes? Are strikes always regarded as extraordinary circumstances? Not all strikes are caused by extraordinary circumstances. The EU has rules about strikes: if an airline’s employees go on strike, it’s the airline’s fault. That is why Smartwings staff strikes are their fault.

One more thing to remember is that not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. That’s why you always have to double check what you’re told.

Especially if you are claiming compensation by yourself. To avoid paying compensation airlines often wrongly deny compensation claims, by saying wrong reasons for delay. If you want to succeed in getting compensation, you have to ask for proof, and be persistent.

If this sounds like a hassle, work with a flight compensation company. They can check your flight and claim compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival to your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe you also have a right to care.

When your flight is heavily delayed, and you have to wait until it finally departs, you have a right to care. As long as the waiting time at the airport is at least 3 hours. This also applies to flight cancellations and denied boarding.

Smartwings must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you must be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Smartwings Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Smartwings owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Smartwings yourself. Use the contact form on the website of Smartwings to contact the customer support centre and request flight delay compensation from the airline. Fill in the form, providing all the details about your flight. Make sure you mention the reason why your flight was delayed, and how long the delay was. The more information you have, the better. Keep in mind that it might take a couple of months until the airline gets back to you. The airline might wrongly refuse your claim, too. Be prepared for it. Be persistent if you want to succeed.

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

Work with a claim compensation company, if you don’t want the hassle. In this case everything is done by the company — a team of legal professionals. All you have to do is to fill in a compensation claim form. Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Smartwings Compensation?
• Smartwings Missed Connection Compensation
• Your Smartwings Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
• Your Smartwings Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

It depends on the case. In most cases, the compensation claim process takes a few months. Some people might get compensation after 2-3 months, if the airline cooperates. But unfortunately, airlines are quite uncooperative. 

It will take some time until you get Smartwings flight delay compensation. 

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Smartwings delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Smartwings Voucher Refund or Cash?

You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.

Majority of airlines were offering coupons during the COVID crisis. 

Many still do that. What if Smartwings offers you a voucher refund or voucher compensation instead of money? You don’t have to agree to it. Normally, in the European Union (and also the UK), airline compensations and refunds are paid in cash or by bank transfer. 

So, ask for bank transfer instead.

Smartwings Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Smartwings flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Smartwings compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.