Dealing with flight disruptions can be quite upsetting. However, the bright side is that the European Union has laws to assist travelers when things don’t go as planned. If you’re traveling by air in the EU, it’s wise to know about these regulations. They can come in handy if your flight gets messed up.
Understanding your rights can make handling travel problems a lot simpler. While it won’t get you to your destination quicker, it can help you feel less stressed when things don’t go as planned.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
If your flight faces disruptions in the EU, you’ll get support. EU laws guarantee airlines look after their passengers when things go wrong.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must offer you:
- Refreshments and snacks
- A hotel room if you’re stuck overnight
- Transportation to and from the hotel
- Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
If you’re delayed for a long time or your flight is cancelled, you might also get:
- A refund
- A different flight option
- Compensation to make up for the trouble
Remember to inquire with airline representatives about these entitlements if your plans change. They have to tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
Smartwings Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from Smartwings can be really annoying. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re stuck waiting for more than three hours due to the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation.
Regulations in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could get up to €600 per person. What counts is when you reach your destination, not when you take off. So pay attention to your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
How much you get depends on how far you’re flying. A short flight won’t get you as much money as a longer flight, even if they’re both delayed the same amount of time.
Curious about exactly how much you could get? Take a look at the table below to see the potential reimbursement amounts:
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
Smartwings Flight Cancellation Compensation
The European Union has laws to protect you if your flight is cancelled. Here’s what you need to know:
If your flight is cancelled within two weeks of your scheduled departure, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600. However, there’s a condition – the airline can avoid paying if they rebook you on a different flight that doesn’t mess up your plans too much.
The airline can avoid paying you if they offer you a new flight that meets the following conditions:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
If you accept another flight from the airline, you can still receive compensation. The key factor is when you reach your final destination.
The amount you could receive is based on two things:
- How far you’re flying
- The delay in your arrival
So, even if the alternative flight is delayed, you might still get some compensation.
Refer to the table below to see more details:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
The airline may not need to compensate you if they can provide a transfer to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even with a slight delay, you might not be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from Smartwings
It’s crucial to know how to request the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s what you need to do:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws well and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
Don’t forget that it is your right as a passenger to claim compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed because of operational issues or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you have a right to compensation.
Which Smartwings Flights are Covered by EU261?
The European Union’s laws for protecting air passengers have a wide-ranging scope. They cover every flight leaving a European Union member state airport and to all flights arriving at an airport in an EU member state when an EU-based airline operates the flight.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These laws also cover airlines from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. This means if you’re flying with any airline within, to, or from Europe, you likely have these rights. It’s good to understand these laws – they exist to assist you if issues arise with your flight. They ensure you’re not left on your own when your travel plans don’t work out.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
Smartwings isn’t always responsible when flights are delayed or cancelled. At times, situations arise that the airline can’t control, like extreme weather or unforeseen issues.
For instance, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an airport emergency, or a strike by air traffic controllers, Smartwings cannot be held accountable. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline is unable to prevent.
When these things happen, you are unlikely to get any compensation. The airline isn’t seen as doing anything wrong when these unforeseen difficulties occur.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
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