Kuwait Airways Connecting Flights

This is a Kuwait Airways connecting flights guide.

It covers everything from how to book connecting flights with Kuwait Airways to baggage policy and EU/UK air passenger rights. Kuwait Airways is the national carrier of Kuwait, headquartered at Kuwait International Airport. The airline operates flights to a number of destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America. Kuwait Airways has codeshare agreements with several large airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airways.

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

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1. Kuwait Airways Connecting Flights

Kuwait Airways is a full-service traditional airline.

Just like any other traditional airline, Kuwait Airways offers airline-protected connecting flights. If you have booked an airline-protected connecting flight you are protected against flight delays, cancellations and missed connection.

Airline-protected connecting flights are better than self transfers.

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, Kuwait Airways sells airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

Do you have a connecting flight with Kuwait Airways?

Your connecting flight might be fully operated by Kuwait Airways. You will have two or more flights and all of them will be operated by Kuwait Airways. These will be Kuwait Airways airplanes and Kuwait Airways staff.

But it’s not the case with every Kuwait Airways flight.

1.2 Kuwait Airways Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

You have a connecting flight with Kuwait Airways, but it might be operated by another airline — Kuwait Airways’s partner. Connecting flights with different airlines are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners. These kind of flights are very common in the aviation industry. 

Codeshare flights allow airlines to widen their flight network and offer more connecting flights. Even to destinations they would not normally serve.

What you should know is that:

• If you miss a connecting flight as a result of delay or cancellation, don’t worry. Contact Kuwait Airways to notify about your situation. They will offer you a new ticket to the next available flight. As long as it’s a Kuwait Airways connection booked from Kuwait Airways, they are responsible for finding solutions. Even if a part of your flight is 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 Kuwait Airways, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of Kuwait Airways codeshare partners here.

2. What If Kuwait Airways Cancels a Flight?

Why is Kuwait Airways cancelling flights?

What can lead to flight cancellation? Flights are mainly being canceled due to bad weather, staffing shortage, security issues, strikes, various technical problems and computer glitches.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

Kuwait Airways an airline based in Kuwait.

So it’s not a European airline. But still, on some of Kuwait Airways flights passengers are protected under the European law.

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 flights departing from Europe.

And if as a result you’re going to miss your connecting flight, Kuwait Airways has to offer you an alternate flight to your final destination (for free). If your flight departs from Europe (EU, UK, EEA), you may opt for a full refund from Kuwait Airways, too — according to the law, you have such right.

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, Kuwait Airways 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 flights departing from Europe.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 Kuwait Airways Refund for Cancellation

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

If your cancelled flight was departing from Europe, you can request a refund from Kuwait Airways. If you don’t wish to travel anymore, or the alternate flight doesn’t fit your travel plans, opt for a refund.

Refund has to be paid by bank transfer, within 7 days.

You don’t have to accept any vouchers.

3. Kuwait Airways Missed Connecting Flight

Why do people miss their connecting flights?

You may miss your connection due to delay or cancellation of your previous flight. In fact, it’s the most common reason. You could miss your connecting flight due to a silly mistake, too. Such as falling asleep while waiting for your flight, waiting at the wrong gate or confusing am with pm.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss Kuwait Airways 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 Kuwait Airways, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Kuwait Airways or not, you should contact Kuwait Airways. They have to offer you a new flight. You missed a connecting flight through no fault of your own, Kuwait Airways 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 Kuwait Airways

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your Kuwait Airways flight:

1. Departs from the EU, EEA or UK
2. Is 3+ hours late and
3. Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you may be entitled to compensation from Kuwait Airways.

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

3.3 Right to Care from Kuwait Airways

On Kuwait Airways flights departing 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. 

In case of Kuwait Airways, the regulation applies only to flights departing from European airports. With European airlines it applies to all flights.

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Kuwait Airways?

You can do it directly from Kuwait Airways or via a third-party.

These are two most popular options. Either you can book a connecting flight using Kuwait Airways official website or a third-party flight booking website / online travel agent (such as kiwi.com).

Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

5. Kuwait Airways Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since Kuwait Airways is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with Kuwait Airways are simple.

In short, Kuwait Airways takes care of your baggage. In most cases, you will need to check in your bag once — before the first flight. And the airline will take care of your luggage throughout the journey. You won’t have to collect and recheck your bag 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., US).

If you aren’t sure if your bag will be sent to your final destination or not, ask the staff at the check in or baggage drop 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 Kuwait Airways? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Kuwait Airways 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 Kuwait Airways Free Baggage Allowance

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

It depends on the airline, travel class, ticket type and also destination. You can see your baggage allowance in your Kuwait Airways booking confirmation. If you are booking a flight, you will see baggage allowance when you are choosing the travel class and ticket type.

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).

Kuwait Airways doesn’t have an “Economy Light” fare (for now). All passengers get free baggage allowance on Kuwait Airways flights. However, airline baggage policy can change. So, make sure you check what is included in the fare when you are making a booking.

Read more: What Is Carry-on Bag / Baggage?

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with Kuwait Airways.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Kuwait Airways (Most Common)

For this example I’ll use the website of Kuwait Airways.

For example, you want to fly from Amsterdam to Manila (the Philippines).

You have found flights for November 13, and these are the options:

On their website, Kuwait Airways sells airline-protected connecting flights. You don’t have to worry about flight delays and cancellations. If you miss your connecting flight due to delay or cancellation of the first flight, you will be put on another flight to your final destination.

As you can see, there is only one option. A flight with a layover in Kuwait International Airport. The flight takes 19 hours, and it is fully operated by Kuwait Airways. But it’s not always the case with every Kuwait Airways connecting flight. In some cases, Kuwait Airways connecting flights are partly operated by partner airlines. But still, these connecting flights remain airline-protected.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Kuwait Airways

Now, let’s assume, that your itinerary is slightly more complex.

Your final destination is not Manila. After spending a couple of days in Manila, you want to fly to El Nido where you have booked a stay at a beachside hotel. 

1. You can book a connecting flight to Manila, like in the example above. There’s only one option. The flight lands in Manila at 4:35 pm. 
2. And then you go to kiwi.com, skyscanner.net or some other flight search engine, and book a flight from Manila to El Nido. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 2 days in Manila. You may also book directly from the airline’s website.

Your Amsterdam — Manila flight is an airline-protected connecting flight. If your first flight is delayed or cancelled, Kuwait Airways will book you on the next available flight free of charge. Because it was not your fault that you missed your connection. However, the last leg, Manila – El Nido flight is a self-transfer with a stopover in Manila. This means that it’s a separate flight. You will need to check in for this flight separately, and check in your baggage. All of this takes time. When possible, don’t book a self-transfer with a very short layover!

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

Featured photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash