Smartwings Flight Cancellation Compensation

Smartwings flight cancellation refund.

Smartwings flight cancellation compensation. What is the difference? Which can you get? In which situations you can get both? How much is the compensation? Are refunds paid in full? These are the questions we are going to discuss. The reasons behind flight cancellations are different. All you need to know is, if your flight is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to both – a full refund from Smartwings and cancellation compensation up to €600.

In case of Smartwings, it applies to flights to and from Europe.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Smartwings Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your Smartwings flight is cancelled?

Will you be booked on a new flight free of charge? Is it possible to get a refund? In which situations can you get compensation?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Smartwings flight cancellation compensation? 

You can get compensation if these conditions are met:

• Cancellation must be due to the fault of Smartwings;
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 14 days before departure);
• Flight must be to/from Europe.

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

Often flights get delayed due to events that are outside the airline’s control.

Events like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disaster, national strike, civil unrest, terrorism threat or security issues at the airport, you can’t get flight cancellation compensation. The airline has no control of such events. And that’s why it is not responsible for flight cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances.

Keep in mind that some strikes aren’t considered extraordinary circumstances. An airline strike is not an extraordinary circumstance. 

Also make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling you the truth. To avoid paying compensation, airlines often wrongly refuse compensation claims by telling wrong reasons for delay and cancellation. To avoid that, hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will check your flight on your behalf. Our partners offer such services. 

1.2 Right to Care

Your Smartwings flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case you have a right to receive care from the airline.

As long as the waiting time at the airport is at least 3 hours, you are entitled to receive certain services from the airline for free. This is regulated by the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. What does it mean for you?

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 your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 Smartwings Flight Cancellation Refund, Smartwings Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

Your flight is cancelled. It doesn’t matter what the reason for cancellation is, the airline must offer you a choice between a new flight (free) or full refund.

These laws apply to Smartwings, too. Because it’s a EU airline. These laws aren’t affected by Smartwings internal policies (Smartwings refund policy). According to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, if your Smartwings flight is cancelled, Smartwings should offer you either a new flight or a full refund. It applies to most Smartwings flight cancellations. 

If you choose the refund, it has to be paid within 7 days.

You don’t have to agree to a Smartwings voucher refund.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you cancel your Smartwings flight.

2. How to Claim Smartwings Compensation?

There are two ways how you can claim Smartwings flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact Smartwings directly. Contact Smartwings customer support centre using the contact form on Smartwings website. Request flight cancellation compensation, referring to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Note that it might take months, and several reminder emails, until you receive the money from Smartwings.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

In this case everything is done by a flight compensation company. You only need to fill in a EU flight cancellation compensation claim form. Register your Smartwings compensation claim, and the rest is done by the legal office. Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Smartwings Compensation?
• Your Smartwings Refund Is Taking Forever. Here’s What You Can Do
• Smartwings Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

If everything goes smoothly, 2 to 3 months.

2 to 3 months from the moment you file a compensation claim until your Smartwings flight cancellation compensation is transferred in your bank account.

But it’s not always the case. Airlines often wrongly refuse compensation claims or even don’t reply to compensation claim emails at all. If this happens, you will need to take additional steps to get compensation, such as contacting the national enforcement body or even taking your case to court.

All of it takes time.

All in all, it’s not a fast process. 

3. How Much Can You Claim for Cancellation?

The compensation amount in the EU is up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Smartwings compensation:

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?

What if you are offered a voucher instead of compensation?

Many airlines regularly offer coupons and vouchers instead of compensation and refund. Keep in mind that it’s against the law. If you are offered a Smartwings compensation voucher, you don’t have to accept it. Ask for bank transfer instead.

Airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Smartwings flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from Smartwings. 

The email will contain information about your options: the next available flight and refund procedures. If you are already at the airport, and it’s a very last-minute cancellation, there’s nothing you can do but wait for the announcement from the airline. Stay at the landside area of the airport while waiting. Do not go through airport security. 

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and full refund. If you choose the refund, keep in mind that it could take about 7 days for the airline to refund you. 

If your flight is cancelled last minute, due to the fault of the airline, you might be entitled to compensation from Smartwings.

4.1 Connecting Flights

Do you need to be on time for another flight?

Regrettably, Smartwings does not offer airline-protected connecting flights. In the case of a connecting flight with Smartwings, it implies that you have independently planned and booked the connection, and it is not a safeguarded connection offered by the airline. Instead, you will have two or more separate flights, each with its unique booking reference. These types of connecting flights are commonly known as “self transfers.”

In the event of a Smartwings flight cancellation and if you have another flight, whether it’s with Smartwings or another airline, the responsibility rests with you. You will be required to handle the repercussions and make arrangements for a new flight independently. In such scenarios, having travel insurance covering trip interruptions and changes may prove beneficial in offsetting associated expenses.

Read more: Smartwings Missed Connection Compensation

Smartwings Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Smartwings Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

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