Air Malta Connecting Flights 

This is an Air Malta connecting flights guide.

In this guide, we will tell you how to book connecting flights with Air Malta. Also, we will cover such topics as baggage rules, passenger rights and compensation rules. Air Malta is the flag carrier airline of Malta. Air Malta codeshares with several European airlines, including Austrian Airlines, airBaltic, Swiss International Air Lines, KLM and Lufthansa.

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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1. Air Malta Connecting Flights

Air Malta is a full-service traditional airline.

Just like most full-service traditional airlines, Air Malta offers protected connecting flights. Such flights are one of the main reasons why many prefer to fly with traditional airlines. Airline-protected flights are considered to be better than self transfers. They’re safer and easier to book.

Airline-protected connecting flights are:

• Safer. Your airline takes care of flight problems.
• More convenient. Baggage transfer is automatic.
• Easier to book. You book several flights as a single journey.

Yes, Air Malta sells airline-protected connecting flights.

Air Malta operates scheduled flights to a number of destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

You have booked an Air Malta connecting flight. 

But not always your connecting flight will be wholly operated by Air Malta. Air Malta can sell a connecting flight which is partly or even wholly operated by one of its partners (codeshare partners). However, there are situations when your Air Malta connecting flight will be operated by Air Malta only. These will be Air Malta airplanes manned by Air Malta staff.

Now you know that both is possible.

1.2 Air Malta Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

This is a common practice in the aviation industry. Connecting flights with different airlines — it’s nothing unusual. These kind of flights are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners.

Thanks to codeshare agreements, you can travel places even when there are no direct flights departing from your origin airport. You will fly to an airline hub from where you will take a connecting flight to your final destination. 

What you should know is that:

• If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, Air Malta has to book you on another flight. As long as it’s an Air Malta connection booked from Air Malta (they are called marketing airline), they are responsible for finding solutions, even if the flight was operated by a codeshare partner.
• If your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled or overbooked, compensation is paid by airline operating this particular flight. If it’s operated by some other airline, not Air Malta, then this other airline is called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of Air Malta codeshare partners here.

1.3 Air Malta vs Malta Air

These are two different airlines.

Air Malta is a full-service airline. Whereas, Malta Air is a low-cost airline. The latter is a joint venture between Ryanair and the Government of Malta. Air Malta offers connecting flights. Malta Air – only direct flights.

2. What If Air Malta Cancels a Flight?

Why Air Malta is cancelling their flights?

There are a number of reasons why Air Malta (or any other airline, for that matter) can cancel a flight. Staff shortage, technical problems or airport congestion. Bad weather. Security issues. These are just some of the most popular reasons why airlines cancel flights.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

Air Malta is a European airline.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their commercial flights.

If your Air Malta flight is cancelled, and as a result you miss your next Air Malta flight, it’s Air Malta’s responsibility to offer you a new flight to your final destination. The rules are the same with all Air Malta cancelled flights, including flights operated by codeshare partners.

You may also opt for a full refund.

You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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2.2 All Your Flights Are Cancelled

Overall, for you as a passenger, the options are the same.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, Air Malta must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport if it’s a last-minute cancellation and you are already at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their commercial flights.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 Air Malta Refund for Cancellation

Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.

If you do not wish to travel on the new flight provided by Air Malta, you may ask for a refund. If the new flight doesn’t fit your travel plans, ask for a refund. You don’t have to choose any coupons or vouchers. The refund has to be paid by bank transfer. It must be paid within seven days.

3. Air Malta Missed Connecting Flight

Why travelers miss their connecting flights?

There are a number of reasons for missing a connecting flight. There could be long queues at check-in counters or security check, and you didn’t expect that. So, you didn’t come early enough. You could simply wait at the wrong gate or fall asleep while waiting for flight. Or your previous flight was late or cancelled.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss Air Malta Connection?

If it’s your fault that it happened — it’s your responsibility.

If it’s not your fault, then your airline has to take care of that. If you booked a flight from Air Malta, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Air Malta or not, you should contact Air Malta. It’s their responsibility to find a solution. You missed a connecting flight, Air Malta must offer you a solution.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Take you to your final destination as soon as possible.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

Read more: Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay 

3.2 Right to Compensation from Air Malta

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your Air Malta flight was late, and you arrived 3+ at your destination hours later than scheduled, you may be entitled to compensation. As long as the cause of the delay or cancellation was due to circumstances within Air Malta’s control.

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

3.3 Right to Care from Air Malta

On all Air Malta flights you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

• Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
• Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary;
• Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
• Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails. So that you can get in touch with your family or friends to inform them about the delay.

It applies to all domestic and international flights with Air Malta. Again, it’s because Air Malta is a European airline. With non-European airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Air Malta?

You can do it directly from Air Malta or via a third-party.

Visit the website of Air Malta to book connecting flights. Alternatively, you can use a third party site (such as www.lastminute.com or kiwi.com) to book Air Malta connecting flights. These are the best options that you have. Booking directly is easier, via a third-party — likely cheaper.

Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

5. Air Malta Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since Air Malta is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with Air Malta are simple.

In short, Lufthansa takes care of your baggage. If you have checked luggage, everything is easy for you with airline-protected connecting flights. Well, in most cases. anyway. You check in your bag at your origin airport, and in most cases it will travel until your final destination. It’s not necessary to collect and recheck it. Unless you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., U.S.). Or, if you have a self-transfer connecting flight. 

If you aren’t sure, ask the staff at the check-in counter.

5.1 Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines

What happens if there are several airlines?

What if one of your flights is operated by different airline, not Air Malta? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Air Malta does share some of its flights with its codeshare partners. In this situation the rules are the same — your baggage is being taken care of by an airline. Mostly, you won’t need to worry about it.

Read more:

• Connecting Flight Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines
• Lost Baggage on Connecting Flights
• Delayed Baggage on Connecting Flights
• What is Checked Baggage?

5.2 Air Malta Free Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.

Baggage allowance is different for every airline. Also, it depends on travel class, destination and occasionally some other factors. Check your Air Malta booking confirmation to see how many bags you can take with you. If you are booking a flight, you see all possible options on the website.

Pay attention to baggage allowance.

It’s not the same for every travel class and airline.

5.3 Economy Light

This is the cheapest option for long-haul flights.

Economy Light comes without free baggage allowance.

We see this all across the industry. Full-service traditional airlines are offering also tickets without free checked baggage allowance. The wording is also often the same — Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

Whenever you see extra cheap Air Malta flights, pay attention to this. Because Air Malta also offers Economy Light tickets (it’s called “Go Light”). If you need more than just a cabin bag, this option is not for you.

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with Air Malta.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Air Malta (Most Common)

For this example I’ll be using the website of Air Malta.

For example, I want to fly from Riga (Latvia) to Malta.

I look for flights for September 1, and these are my options:

On their website Air Malta sells only protected connecting flights. However, as we can see, not all  of the flights are operated by Air Malta. For example, the first leg of all connecting flights are operated by airBaltic, one of Air Malta’s codeshare partners. The second leg, however, is operated by Air Malta. Pay attention to the fact that total flight duration, layover airport and prices vary.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Air Malta

Now, let’s assume, that Malta is not your final destination. 

You want to fly to Malta, where you plan to spend, let’s say, 3 days, and then head to Catania in Sicily. How to book such a connection?

1. You can book a connecting flight to Malta, like in the example above. For example, you’re taking the cheapest option, the fourth one, which arrives in Malta at 7:55 pm. 
2. And then you go to kiwi.com, or some other airfare search site, and book a flight from Malta to Catania. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 3 days in Malta. 

Your flight from Riga to Malta is an airline-protected connecting flight. This means that you are protected by the airline in case of flight disruptions. If your first flight is delayed or cancelled, and because of that you miss your next flight, Air Malta will put you on another flight for free. However, the last leg, Malta – Catania, is a separate flight. You will check in for it separately, and get boarding passes separately. Do not forget about this!

What is your experience with Air Malta? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Air Malta? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive compensation from Air Malta?

Featured photo by Isaac Struna on Unsplash