You flew Smartwings and your flight didn’t go to plan? Here’s what you’re entitled to when a flight is delayed or cancelled, how to claim, and how much you can ask for.
Smartwings runs dozens of flights a day. In just the first half of 2024, the airline ran over 14,000 flights and carried more than 2 million passengers. Things don’t always go to plan, though. That’s exactly what EU Regulation 261/2004 is for — it protects passengers in cases of delays, cancellations and other disruption.
Smartwings delay compensation — when am I entitled to it?
You’re entitled to compensation for a delayed Smartwings flight when the flight arrives more than 3 hours later than scheduled. In that case you can claim up to €600 per person.
What matters is the actual landing time at the destination compared with the scheduled arrival. The departure delay doesn’t matter.
For the entitlement to apply, the flight also has to either take off from an EU airport or land at an EU airport (provided it’s operated by an EU-based carrier), and the disruption can’t be down to so-called extraordinary circumstances.
The most common “extraordinary circumstance” is bad weather. But every case has to be assessed on its own merits — airlines love to blame extraordinary circumstances, and their version isn’t always the truth.
Don’t forget: you’re entitled to compensation even if your Smartwings flight departs from outside the EU. Because the airline is based in the Czech Republic, the flight can always be assessed under EU 261/2004.
Delayed Smartwings flight — how much am I entitled to?
If your flight arrives more than 3 hours late, you can claim up to €600 per person. The amount depends on the flight distance:
| Flight distance | Compensation per person |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. Prague – Split) | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. Prague – Malaga) | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. Prague – Dubai) | €600 |
Watch out for two exceptions:
- For flights within the EU the maximum is €400, even when the flight is longer than 3,500 km (e.g. Prague to Tenerife).
- A flight over 3,500 km has to be delayed by more than 4 hours to qualify for €600. If the delay is only 3–4 hours, the amount is halved to €300.
Smartwings cancellation compensation — when am I entitled to it?
If your Smartwings flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the departure date, you’re covered by the EU Regulation. In that case you’re entitled to a replacement flight or a refund. And on top of that, financial compensation of up to €600 per person.
Important: You’re always entitled to a replacement flight (or a refund) — even when the cancellation was caused by an extraordinary circumstance. Financial compensation only applies when the cancellation wasn’t due to an extraordinary circumstance. Accepting the replacement flight does not waive your right to compensation.
Cancelled Smartwings flight — how much am I entitled to?
| Replacement flight delay | Distance | Less than 2 h | 2–3 h | 3–4 h | Over 4 h or no flight at all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All flights under 1,500 km | €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | |
| EU flights over 1,500 km | €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | |
| Other flights between 1,500–3,500 km | €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 |
What else are you entitled to when a Smartwings flight is delayed or cancelled?
Financial compensation isn’t the only thing you’re entitled to. While you wait for the delayed flight (or the replacement flight after a cancellation), Smartwings has to provide refreshments — usually as a voucher for one of the airport restaurants or shops.
If the wait is overnight, you’re also entitled to accommodation. If the airline doesn’t book it, you can book your own and bill it back. Same goes for transport between the airport and the hotel.
How to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled Smartwings flight
You can handle the claim yourself, or you can leave it to us.
If you want to do it yourself, use the airline’s claim form. Smartwings should get back to you within a few weeks. They’ll either accept or reject the claim. Most of the time it’s a rejection citing extraordinary circumstances.
If you don’t want to spend your free time writing emails and calling Smartwings customer service with no guaranteed result, hand the case to us. Contact Refundio — we specialise in Smartwings claims. We talk to the airline daily and know how to get clients paid as fast as possible. And if the airline still refuses, we take the case to court at our own risk and cost. Our success rate on those disputes is over 98 %.
Common questions
Smartwings rejected my claim — what now? A Smartwings rejection isn’t the final word. Smartwings often refuses compensation even in cases where the entitlement is clear — usually citing extraordinary circumstances. Refundio specialises in Smartwings claims and knows how to disprove those arguments using flight data.
Smartwings offered me a flight voucher — do I have to accept it? No. You always have the right to be paid in cash. A voucher isn’t a good deal for most clients — you can’t use it with a tour operator, for instance.
Am I entitled to compensation on Smartwings charter flights too? Yes. As far as the EU Regulation is concerned, it makes no difference whether it’s a scheduled or a charter Smartwings flight.
Are children entitled to compensation as well? Yes. Every passenger is entitled. The only exception is children under two who don’t have their own seat.
Can I claim delay compensation if I didn’t take the flight? No. Only passengers who actually boarded the delayed flight can claim.
Smartwings cancelled my flight and gave me a replacement. Am I entitled to anything else? Yes. You’re always entitled to a replacement flight. On top of that, if the conditions are met, you’re entitled to financial compensation of up to €600 per person.
How far back can I claim compensation on a Smartwings flight? In the Czech Republic the limitation period is 3 years from the flight date. The Czech Civil Code adds one more condition — you must lodge the claim with the airline within 6 months of the flight.
Does Smartwings have to inform me about my rights at the airport? Yes. When there’s a delay or cancellation, Smartwings is required to give you written information about your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Smartwings Group — which company operated your flight?
Even though Smartwings is a Czech company, it runs flights out of four different European countries. It’s worth knowing which specific carrier operated your flight:
- QS — Smartwings (Czech Republic)
- 6D — Smartwings Slovakia
- 7O — Smartwings Hungary
- 3Z — Smartwings Poland
Identifying the right operator matters when you file your claim against the correct company.