Smartwings Review [2024]: Only flies to the Czech Republic?

I love saving money when traveling, especially if it leaves me with more money to treat myself on a trip. If you're reading this article, it likely applies to you too. Luckily, there are low-cost airlines to help you get to destinations worldwide for less. 

But, if you've ever flown on one of these airlines, you know there are certainly benefits and drawbacks to flying with low-cost carriers. Sometimes, the cons outweigh the benefits, like saving money. 

Need a different budget airline in Europe? Check out these European low-cost airlines, like Wizz Air, Eurowings, and Air Malta.

Let's see how Smartwings compares to these other airlines. I'll discuss where it flies, their baggage policies, and the seats on their planes in this review. I've also included some firsthand reviews from past customers to keep this review as accurate as possible.

What is Smartwings?

Smartwings is the biggest Czech airline and flies to over 80 cities. Smartwings was founded in 1997 though it was under the name Travel Service. Its focus then was on operating charter flights mainly for Czech tour operators. 

Travel Service was officially renamed to Smartwings, the name of its former low-cost subsidiary, in December 2018.

Though based in the Czech Republic, it also has subsidiaries in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany. Smartwings prioritizes two things: safety and staff.

When it comes to safety, Smartwings meets European Union guidelines, the United States Federal Aviation Administration requirements, and the audits done by the International Air Transport Association. Smartwings is authorized to fly all over the world.

You may have some concerns when you hear of a low-cost airline. I get it. But with these excellent safety reports and staff trained to keep you safe and comfortable on flights, what is there to worry about?

Where Does Smartwings Fly?

Smartwings flies to multiple destinations across Europe and a few beyond Europe. Here are a few of the countries that Smartwings flies to:

• Albania
• Bulgaria
• Canary Islands
• Cyprus
• Egypt
• Spain
• United Arab Emirates, and more

Within these countries, there's at least one city that Smartwings flies to, and some have multiple cities. 

All the flights on Smartwings to these destinations depart from Prague's PRG airport. This might seem inconvenient, but at least you can get to the Czech Republic from anywhere using Smartwings. 

However, there's a way to hack these cheap flights, even if you aren't in Europe. You can find a cheap flight to Prague and then grab a Smartwings flight to one of the many destinations above! A quick pit stop in Prague could save you a lot of cash. 

Smartwings Baggage

One of the downsides of flying with a low-cost carrier is that bags are not always included in the lowest-cost ticket, and you'll have to add them for extra money. So if you're an over-packer like me, it could cost you more than you expect to fly. 

But, if you're a minimal packer, you can get away with just a small carry-on and buy the cheapest ticket Smartwings offers.

So what's the baggage limit for Smartwings?

Smartwings has five ticket types, each with a different baggage limit:

• Economy Lite: One 8 kg cabin bag
• Economy Plus: One 23 kg check bag, one 8 kg cabin bag, and one 3 kg personal item
• Economy Flex: One 23 kg check bag, one 8 kg cabin bag, and one 3 kg personal item
• Business Lite: Two 32 kg check bags, two 8 kg cabin bags, and one 3 kg personal item
• Business: Two 32 kg check bags, two 8 kg cabin bags, and one 3 kg personal item

In addition to the weight limits above, there are also size limits to the bags you can take on Smartwings flights. These sizes are strictly enforced by the airline. 

• Checked bags: No more than 250 cm in total length, height, and width
• Cabin bags: 55 x 45 x 25 cm maximum
• Personal items: 40 x 30 x 15 cm 

But, if the type of ticket you buy doesn't have enough bags you want, you can add them on. How much for checked bags on Smartwings?

Additional bags will cost anywhere from 30 to 54 USD depending on how soon in advance you buy them or if you wait to pay at the gate. 

Seats on Smartwings

Unfortunately, you'll have to pay for seats if you want a say in where you sit. Smartwings has options for reserving standard and premium seats. Paying for seats is one of the major downsides for a window-seat lover like me. 

But, if you couldn't care less where they put you on the plane, you won't have to worry about the extra fees. You may end up with a good seat anyway!

As people note in the reviews in the next section, Smartwings has small seats. This could mean paying for a better seat or being uncomfortable for a few hours to save some dough.

Smartwings Reviews

You may be thinking about flying with Smartwings, but what do past customers have to say? 

Overall, customers either give Smartwings a really good or terrible review. The good reviews highlight the friendly staff and clean planes. 

But, there are also a lot of bad experiences people have had with the airline, which is common for a low-cost carrier. 

Many people experienced delayed or even canceled flights, some of which were canceled at the last minute. Yikes. 

People also highlight the small seats, lack of legroom, and cramped space. 

Is Smartwings Worth it?

It depends. Smartwings can save you money when you fly to and from the Czech Republic if you can pack light and aren't on a strict schedule. 

However, if you're flying with a lot of luggage or need to be at your destination on time, Smartwings isn't worth flying. 

You should book a more reliable carrier, even if it costs more.

Our Rating: 2.4/5

Pros:

• Travel to and from the Czech Republic
• Low cost for light packers

Cons:

• Extra costs for seats and bags
• Frequent delays
• Strict baggage sizes 
• Frequent flights delays 
• Uncomfortable seats 
• Bad customer service
• Only flies to and from the Czech Republic

Time for Takeoff With Pilot

Whether you are flying Smartwings or another airline, planning a trip is an exciting time. Log all your plans on Pilot.