Booking with Czech Airlines but getting on SmartWings flight, any consequences?
I've recently booked a flight with Czech Airlines in order to get a somewhat less "low cost" experience (meal on board, luggage included and so on). After hearing several stories about flights by Czech Airlines being merged with SmartWings flights (a low-cost carrier) I decided to check if my flight is about to receive the same treatment and it seems it might.
What are the consequences when this occurs?
What should I expect? (especially when the reviews of SmartWings are pretty bad)
A worse service?
No meal on board?
Basically a low cost experience for a higher price ticket?
Best Answer
The possible consequences are:
- No online check-in, except for flights departing Prague airport. Smartwings requires everyone to check-in at the counter, which always causes huge lines
- No free meal, no free drinks of any kind
- Less space between the seats
- The quality of the cabin is worse, with some of the seats broken at times
Overall it doesn't really matter as Smartwings flies within Europe (except for charter flights and a couple of flights to the Middle East) so it's a 3-hour discomfort at most.
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Is Czech Airlines still operating?
It was the first airline in the world to fly regular jet-only routes (between Prague and Moscow). \u010cSA filed for bankruptcy in March 2021, but restructuring negotiations with creditors continue and the airline still operates flights to a limited number of destinations.How do I check my flight fullness?
The simplest way to figure out how full the flight will be is to pick up the phone and call the airline. Explain that you're concerned about being on a crowded flight and ask the agent to give you an estimate as to how full the flight currently is.Is Czech airline safe?
After careful evaluation and feedback from the airline and aviation industry AirlineRatings.com has upgraded its seven-star safety rating system to give more importance to IOSA and this move elevates Czech Airlines up to 7-stars \u2013 the highest ranking.Review: Czech's SMARTWINGS 737-800 Economy Class
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Answer 2
You will get whatever was stated in your fare and the terms and conditions.
On many low-cost carriers, inflight meals are available if prebooked at additional (steep) cost. Yours may already be included, if that was stated during booking.
On many low-cost carriers, luggage can be booked at additional cost. Yours may already be included, if that was stated during booking.
On many low-cost carriers, rows with extended legroom come at a price. If your booking did state a certain seat pitch, Czech airlines may be required to book you a seat on the Smartwings plane's Emergency Exit row.
and so on.
If you don't want to fly with Smartwings because the maintenance of the planes or the safety record of the airline is worse, you should at least write an email to Czech airlines that you won't fly with them anymore until they publicly announce to refrain from putting their passengers into Smartwings planes.
Answer 3
The answer is Travel Service, which operates own SmartWings as low-cost and became major owner of the CSA. In recent times CSA has drop some inclusive things, like meal included on flights with duration less then 3 hours. Not to be complicated enough, some flights are operated by Korean Air. Korean Air is (was) minor shareholder in CSA. Longer flights are operated usually by CSA and service is better. I can only say from my experience traveling Prague - UK (1h+) and Prague - Spain (3h+). And they share codes so "OK" CSA can be also "QS" SmartWings.
The last thing, SmartWings as not pleasant like CSA, I never had bad experience, like broken seat or so. Actually preferred low-cost of mine. My last flight was in brand new Aircraft, with that cool extra space in roof and really nice ambient light. Being 2m tall it was pleasant.
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