Smartwings Denied Boarding Compensation

Smartwings overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.

How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?

Flight overbooking is a common practice. Airlines often sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane. You see, there are always no-shows, and by overbooking flights, airlines maximize the capacity of their flights. However, sometimes all people who bought tickets show up for the flight, and someone has to be denied boarding due to overbooking. Whenever that happens, the airline is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.

There are two ways you can claim this compensation.

1. Smartwings Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations

Have you been denied boarding by Smartwings? 

What are your rights in such situations? When are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from Smartwings? When it comes to denied boarding due to overbooking, the rules are extremely simple – you have a right to compensation from the airline.

If you’re flying to or from Europe with Smartwings, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you will be entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600. 

This only applies to overbookings.

If you were denied boarding to some other issues (like problems with visa or passport), you can’t get denied boarding compensation. Also you won’t be entitled to compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat (voluntary denied boarding compensation).

Read more: 

• Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; 
• Regulation UK261

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 Voluntary Denied Boarding

What is voluntary denied boarding?

Yes, there are different types of denied boarding. 

If you were denied boarding voluntarily, it means that you have accepted the airline’s offer to travel later, on a different flight. How does this work?

Your flight is overbooked, and there are too many people wanting to board the plane. So the airline first has to find volunteers who will agree to travel later. They will be given a new flight ticket (for free, of course) and some perks such as free meal and, in case of a long delay, free hotel. Volunteers will also be given instant compensation in the form of vouchers or cash. If you are offered compensation like this and you accept it, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.

In this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation from Smartwings.

You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.

1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding

There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.

There are not enough volunteers. In a situation like this, people with confirmed tickets will be refused boarding. If this happens to you, know that it’s called involuntarily denied boarding, and you are entitled to compensation.

What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?

• The airline must provide you with a new flight;
• The airline should refund you fully if you decline the new flight;
• In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
• You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger. 

* 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 you have to wait overnight, Smartwings must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.

1.3 Right to Care

All passengers travelling with Smartwings have a right to care.

Are you stuck at the airport for 3+ hours due to flight delay, flight cancellation or denied boarding? According to EU Flight Compensation Regulation (EC Regulation 261/2004), you are entitled to receive care from the airline. 

It doesn’t matter if you were denied boarding voluntarily or involuntarily, you are entitled to this. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, it doesn’t matter what are the reasons. If your flight is disrupted due to extraordinary circumstances, you are still entitled to receive care from the airline.

What does it mean for you as a passenger?

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 new flight is only on the next day, the airline has to offer you a free hotel stay and a free transfer to the hotel and back to the airport. Agreeing to these free services doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.

2. How to Claim Smartwings Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?

You can claim compensation yourself.

The other option is to work with professionals.

Claiming compensation from Smartwings yourself. Contact Smartwings customer support center using their website. Request compensation for denied boarding Smartwings owes you. Refer to the above mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Ask for the right amount of money in pay, and don’t agree to any Smartwings coupons. Keep in mind that this process is not fast. It might take a few months until you get Smartwings denied boarding compensation.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

Register your Smartwings compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. Just fill in one form, and that’s it. The flight compensation company will do the rest. They will contact the airline and claim compensation on your behalf.

It’s easier than the first option because you don’t need to deal with the airline. You won’t have to negotiate with the airline if your claim is wrongly refused. You won’t have to take your case to national enforcement body or court. All of it will be done by the flight compensation company. Our partners offer such services.

Read more: Smartwings Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

It depends on a number of factors.

Like the time of the year, the country you are flying from and how cooperative is the airline. If the airline doesn’t cooperate, it might take months until you get your Smartwings denied boarding compensation. 

If everything goes smoothly, you might receive compensation after 2-3 months.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

In the EU compensation amounts are fixed.

In most situations they range from €250 to €600.

Here is how you can calculate Smartwings compensation yourself:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

This is also the amount you should be demanding if you are claiming compensation on your own. Otherwise you might end up with a smaller amount. Smartwings might offer a smaller compensation at first. You don’t have to agree to that.

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 Code, Discounts or Cash?

According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

You don’t have to accept any vouchers, coupons, discounts or miles.

Smartwings just like most airlines, may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Request a bank transfer instead. Because all airline compensations and refunds in the EU have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

Smartwings Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ

Problems With Visa or Passport

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

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