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.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
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:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
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
My flight was very cheap. Can I still get compensation?
Yes.
The price of the ticket doesn’t matter.
If your flight is eligible, you can get compensation even if your ticket was very cheap. The cheap price of your ticket also doesn’t affect the compensation amount.
Do I need to have travel insurance in order to claim compensation?
No, you don’t.
According to Regulation EC 261/2004, you don’t need to have travel insurance to get compensation. Just like the price of the ticket doesn’t matter, insurance doesn’t matter, too.
Can my child get compensation from Smartwings?
Yes.
If your flight is eligible to compensation (EU flight delay compensation / flight cancellation compensation / denied boarding compensation), both you and your child/baby can get compensation. Even if you travelled with an infant who had a special infant ticket.
You and your child will get the same amount.
Can I claim compensation for another person?
Yes, you can.
You can claim compensation for a friend, relative, family member or acquaintance. Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
You can file a compensation claim for them, as long as they provide you with a boarding pass and passport copy. They will also have to sign all documents Smartwings or a flight compensation company might ask to sign.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In most European countries you can claim compensation for old flights too. Even if that flight was 2-3 years ago. However, for the best results, we would recommend you to make a claim as soon as you return from your trip.
What to do if Smartwings is refusing to pay compensation?
Smartwings is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
What to do in such a situation? The best way is to hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will continue the process on your behalf.
Alternatively, you may contact the respective national enforcement body and ask them to help solve your case. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
Smartwings Refund
If my flight is cancelled, can I get a refund?
Most likely, yes.
You can get a refund if you are flying with Smartwings.
If your flight is cancelled, you will be given a choice between a new flight and refund.
You can choose to have a refund instead of a replacement flight.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with Smartwings, you can.
If your flight is eligible, you can get compensation even if the flight departed from a country outside the EU. Because according to the EU Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004, you are protected under the law on all Smartwings flights.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with Smartwings, you can.
You are protected under the EU law on all Smartwings flights.
I am not a citizen of the EU. Can I get compensation?
Yes, you can.
All passengers are protected in the EU.
No matter the nationality.
Other Situations
Smartwings gave me a free flight to my destination and a free hotel stay. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes.
If your flight is eligible, you can get compensation even if you received care from the airline and a new flight. It doesn’t affect your chances of receiving this compensation.
Smartwings took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
Yes, you might.
If your flight is eligible, you can get compensation even if the airline booked you on a new flight for free. Accepting a free replacement flight doesn’t affect your chances of receiving flight compensation compensation.
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.