This is a Czech Airlines connecting flights guide.
What this guide is about? It covers everything from how to book connecting flights with Czech Airlines to baggage rules and air passengers rights. Czech Airlines is the flag carrier of the Czech Republic. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world. The airline filed for bankruptcy in 2021 and at the moment has reduced its network to just a few scheduled routes.
Czech Airlines has codeshare agreements with popular European airlines (KLM, Air France, Air Europe, Iberia, etc.), and offers connecting flights.
Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.
1
Is It Protected?
Yes, it’s a protected connection.
Traditional airlines sell airline-protected connecting flights. It’s more convenient and more safe than self-transfer flights. You don’t need a visa for connecting flights like this.
Unless you book flights separately.
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2
Baggage Rules
Airline takes care of your baggage.
Mostly, you will check in baggage only once — you won’t have to recheck baggage for every flight. This is how it works with full-service airlines and airline-protected connecting flights.
Baggage allowance depends on the ticket, destination and occasionally some other factors.
3
Travel Insurance
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Make your trip safe from day 1.
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1. Czech Airlines Connecting Flights
Czech Airlines is a full-service traditional airline.
Full-service traditional airlines offer airline-protected connecting flights. Along with some other services (like free checked baggage, meals, free seat selection), connecting flights are the reason why travellers choose to fly with traditional airlines. Airline-protected connecting flights are better than self transfers.
Airline-protected connecting flights are:
- More safe. 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, Czech Airlines sells airline-protected connecting flights.
1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline
In some situations you will fly only with Czech Airlines.
You will have two or more flights and all of them will be operated by Czech Airlines. These will be Czech Airlines airplanes and Czech Airlines staff. But it’s not always like that. Often airlines share flights.
At some point you may experience that a part of your connecting flight is operated by another airline. It’s very common in the aviation industry.
1.2 Czech Airlines Codeshare Partners
Sometimes airlines share their flights.
So, you may book a connecting flight from Czech Airlines, but it might be operated by another airline (Czech Airlines’s partner). You will fly with another airline, on their airplane. Connecting flights with different airlines are very common. These kind of flights are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners.
What you should know is that:
- If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, contact Czech Airlines. They will book you on another flight free of charge. Even if a part of your connecting flight was operated by a partner airline.
- 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 Czech Airlines, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.
See a list of Czech Airlines codeshare partners here.
2. What If Czech Airlines Cancels a Flight?
Why is Czech Airlines cancelling their flights?
This could happen due to a number of reasons. Bad weather, strikes, staff shortage, airport congestion, various technical problems, security issues. These are just some of the most popular reasons.
2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled
Czech Airlines 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 / all their flights departing from Europe.
If you are going to miss your Czech Airlines connection because your previous Czech Airlines flight was delayed or cancelled, you are entitled to a free ticket to your destination. You may also opt for a full refund instead.
You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).
Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.
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, Czech Airlines 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 Czech Airlines Refund for Cancellation
Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.
Your Czech Airlines flight was cancelled, but you don’t wish to travel anymore, because the new flight doesn’t fit your travel plans. In this situation, you can ask for a full refund. The refund must be paid within seven days, by bank transfer.
You don’t have to accept vouchers or coupons.
3. Czech Airlines Missed Connecting Flight
Why do people miss connecting flights?
Very common reason is a delay or cancellation of the previous flight.
You could also miss your flight also due to airport congestion and long queues at the airport. Or it could be a simple mistake like waiting at the wrong gate or confusing am with pm — ouch, happens.
3.1 What Happens If You Miss Czech Airlines 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 Czech Airlines, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Czech Airlines or not, you should contact Czech Airlines. It’s their responsibility to find a solution. You missed a connecting flight (and it was not your fault), Czech Airlines 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 Czech Airlines
Sometimes you have a right to compensation.
If your Czech Airlines flight:
- Arrives at your destination 3 or more hours later than planned,
- Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline
Then you might be entitled to flight compensation from Czech Airlines.
Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?
You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
GET FLIGHT COMPENSATION
File a Claim Online
3.3 Right to Care from Czech Airlines
On all Czech Airlines flights from Europe 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.
It applies to all domestic and international flights with Czech Airlines. Again, it’s because Czech Airlines is a European airline. With non-European airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.
When it comes to air passenger rights, unless otherwise stated, we talk about air passenger rights in the EU, EEA and UK. When we say Europe or European, we mean EU, EEA or UK. This is done for the simplicity, since the according laws in these countries are about the same.
4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Czech Airlines?
You can do it directly from Czech Airlines or via a third-party.
Booking directly from the airline is the best and safest option. But it’s not always the cheapest option. Alternatively, you can use a third-party booking website to book Czech Airlines connecting flights. Often third-party booking sites offer discounted flights.
How to Book?
Airline website (directly).
This is the easiest way to book a connecting flight. It’s also the safest way to book a connection. You make a single booking, have a single reservation code and the booking includes several flights. Sometimes they are all with one airline, other times – two or more. Anyway, in this case, you can be 100% sure that you have a proper connecting flight.
Other Option
Flight booking websites.
Few examples: skyscanner.net, expedia.com, momondo.com.
Pay attention to the details. Because some of these sites are only search engines, and sellers are other websites. Apart from that, they often sell both airline-protected connecting flights and self-transfer flights. If it’s a self-transfer, know that it comes with its own risks, and there are things you should take into account. Self-transfer is not the same thing as airline-protected transfer.
For extra protection, buy also a travel insurance covering flight disruptions, or book with sites like kiwi.com, who offer extra protection.
With kiwi.com you are more protected than normally.
Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?
5. Czech Airlines Connecting Flights: Baggage
Since Czech Airlines is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.
Baggage rules on connecting flights with Czech Airlines are simple.
In short, Czech Airlines takes care of your baggage. You check in your luggage before the first flight. The airline will take care of your bag during your connecting flight. You don’t need to collect and recheck it between flights. Unless you have a self-transfer or you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., USA).
If you aren’t sure about whether you’ll have to collect and recheck your baggage, ask airport staff when you’re checking in or dropping your bags off.
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 Czech Airlines? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Czech Airlines 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. In most situations you won’t have 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 Czech Airlines Free Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.
When booking a ticket, pay attention to baggage allowance. If you are booking the cheapest ticket, it’s possible it won’t include free checked baggage allowance. Yes, even if you are booking a flight with a traditional airline, as many traditional airlines offer “Light” tickets with no checked bag.
In this case, you may only bring a free cabin bag (and sometimes, + a personal item). Baggage allowance varies from airline to airline. Also it depends on your travel class, ticket type and destination.
If you have a Czech Airlines flight, you can check your baggage allowance online (see “My Bookings”). Alternatively, check your Czech Airlines booking confirmation in your email, to see what is the baggage allowance.
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).
When you see cheap Czech Airlines flights, pay attention to this. Because Czech Airlines also offers Economy Light tickets. This ticket type is called “Lite”. If you plan to travel with a checked bag, this option is not for you.
“Lite” is not available on every flight.
Read more: What Is Carry-on Bag / Baggage?
6. Connecting Flight Examples
Here are two connecting flight examples with Czech Airlines.
6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Czech Airlines (Most Common)
For this example, I’ll use the website of Czech Airlines.
For example, you want to fly from Amsterdam to Hurghada (Egypt).
You have found flights for October 1, and these are the options:
On their website, Czech Airlines sells protected connecting flights. However, as you can see, not all flights are operated by Czech Airlines. The first leg of each connecting flight is operated by KLM, one of Czech Airlines codeshare partners. However, the second leg is operated by Czech Airlines.
Notice that total flight duration and price is different for each flight.
Number of stops may also vary (but not in this example).
6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Czech Airlines
Now, let’s assume, that your itinerary is slightly more complex.
Hurghada is not your final destination. You want to fly from Amsterdam to Hurghada, and from Hurghada onwards to Cairo to visit the pyramids and The Egyptian Museum. But first, before that you want to spend some time at an all-inclusive resort on the beach.
- You book a connecting flight to Hurghada, like in the example above. For example, you’re taking the cheapest (and the fastest) option, the third one, which arrives in Hurghada at 5:05 am.
- And then you go to kiwi.com, or some other flight search engine, and book a flight from Hurghada to Cairo. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 3 days in Hurghada — a decent stopover in Hurghada. You may also book directly from airline.
Until Hurghada you have an airline-protected connecting flight. If your first flight is delayed or cancelled, Czech Airlines will book you on another flight for free. Event if the connecting flight is partly operated by KLM, Czech Airlines partner.
However, the last leg, Hurghada — Cairo flight, is a self-transfer. You have a stopover in Hurghada. When booking a self-transfer, leave yourself plenty of time. You’ll need to check in for this flight (which is a separate flight) and check in your luggage. Don’t risk with short layovers.
What is your experience with Czech Airlines? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Czech Airlines? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive compensation from Czech Airlines?
Featured photo by Max Walter
About the author:
Una is an organized globetrotter and foodie who’s been living a digital nomad lifestyle since 2013. She always starts her day early with a good book before diving into work. Apart from traveling and aviation, her other passions include gym, hiking and cycling. Una is also a strong proponent of AI technology. She firmly believes in its potential to simplify life and has often advocated for its wider adoption in our day-to-day activities. Her favorite airlines are Qatar Airways, Emirates, and KLM.
