Vueling Connecting Flights

This is a Vueling connecting flights guide.

It covers everything from how to book connecting flights with Vueling to baggage policies, air passengers rights and compensation regulations. Vueling is a Spanish low-cost airline, headquartered at El Prat Airport in Barcelona. The airline serves over 120 destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

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

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1. Vueling Connecting Flights

Vueling is a low-cost airline.

Despite being a low-cost carrier, Vueling offers protected connecting flights. Vueling connecting flights work just like those of traditional airlines. If one of your flights gets delayed or cancelled, and you miss your next flight, the airline will book you on the next available flight. And that’s a good thing. Because 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, Vueling sells airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

In most situations, your connecting flight will be operated by Vueling only.

You will have two or more flights and all of them will be operated by Vueling. You will be on an Vueling plane, with Vueling crew. Some flights, however, could be operated by Vueling partners. And parts of partner airline connecting flights could be operated by Vueling, if there’s an agreement.

1.2 Vueling Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

It is done to widen the flight network. Connecting flights with different airlines are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners. This is a very common practice in the aviation industry. Thanks to codeshare flights, more destinations are available to passengers.

What you should know is that:

• If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, the airline has to offer you a new flight to your destination. As long as it’s a Vueling connection booked from Vueling, the airline is responsible for finding solutions. If you miss your connection due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight, contact Vueling.
• 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 Vueling, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of Vueling codeshare partners here.

2. What If Vueling Cancels a Flight?

Why is Vueling cancelling flights?

There are a number of reasons why airlines cancel flights. It could bad weather or natural disasters. Or it could be due to some technical issues with an airplane. Other common reasons for flight cancellation are: staffing shortage, strikes, airport congestion, security issues.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

Vueling 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.

And if as a result you’re going to miss your connecting flight, it’s Vueling’s responsibility to offer you an alternative flight to your final destination. If you don’t want to take this flight, you may opt for a full refund instead.

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, Vueling 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 Vueling Refund for Cancellation

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

If the alternate flight doesn’t fit your travel plans, or you don’t want to travel anymore, request a refund. According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, it has to be paid to your bank account. You don’t have to accept any vouchers.

3. Vueling Missed Connecting Flight

Why do people miss their connecting flights?

You could miss your connecting flight because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled. Or, it could be a simple mistake, like confusing am with pm or waiting at the wrong gate.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss Vueling 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 Vueling, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Vueling or not, you should contact Vueling. It’s their responsibility to find a you a new flight. You missed a connecting flight, Vueling 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 Vueling

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your Vueling flight:

• Is 3+ hours late or cancelled last minute
• Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you may be entitled to compensation from Vueling. 

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

3.3 Right to Care from Vueling

On all Vueling 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. 

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

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Vueling?

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

These are two most common ways how you can book connecting flights. The best way, however, is to book flights directly from the airline. In theory, it’s the safest option. But it’s not always the cheapest option. Third party flight booking websites often offer great flight deals.

Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

5. Vueling Connecting Flights: Baggage

Baggage rules on connecting flights with Vueling are simple.

Even though Vueling is not a traditional full-service airline, it will take care of your checked bag through the journey. 

In short, Vueling takes care of your baggage. You check it in before your first flight. You don’t have to collect and recheck baggage between flights. Unless you have a self-transfer — separately booked flights, or you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage.

Ask the staff at the check in counter if you aren’t sure.

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 Vueling? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Vueling 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 at all.

Read more: 

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

5.2 Vueling Free Baggage Allowance

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

It varies depending on the airline, travel class and destination.

If you don’t know what is your baggage allowance, check your booking confirmation. When you are booking a Vueling flight, you can see baggage allowance when you are choosing ticket type. The cheapest Vueling tickets often come without checked 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. Both full-service and low-cost airlines are offering tickets without free checked baggage allowance. While it’s very common for low-cost carriers, it was less common for traditional airlines. But now, more and more traditional airlines also offer fares without checked baggage. Often these cheap tickets are called Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

When you see cheap Vueling flights, pay attention to this.

Especially because Vueling is a low-cost carrier.

Vueling offers “Light” tickets, too. The fare is called “Basic”. The baggage allowance is even smaller than usual — only one underseat bag (max. 40x20x30 cm). You can add checked bag, but for extra charge.

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

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with Vueling.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Vueling (Most Common)

For this example, I’ll use the website of Vueling.

Let’s assume that I want to fly from Tenerife (North) to Amsterdam.

I have found flights for October 18, and these are some of the options:

Even though Vueling is a low-cost airline, it offers protected connecting flights. Connecting flights offered by Vueling are no different than those of a traditional airline. The airline will take care of your checked bag — airline staff will take it off the plane and transfer it to the next flight. Also, if you miss your connection through no fault of your own, you will be given a new flight ticket.

For my Tenerife North — Amsterdam flight there are many option to choose from. The cheapest are No 3 and No 4, but they are not the fastest ones. The faster flight is No 1. It’s slightly more expensive than No 3 and 4. All connecting flights are via Barcelona. All of the connecting flights are operated by Vueling. There are no partner airlines involved.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Vueling

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

Amsterdam is not my final destination. After spending 3 days in Amsterdam, I am going to Paris from where I am going to continue my trip around Europe. How to book such a flight, including a stopover in Amsterdam?

1. I can book a connecting flight to Amsterdam, like in the example above. I am taking the fastest flight, No 1, which lands in Amsterdam at 3:50 pm. 
2. And then I go to kiwi.com, skyscanner.net or some other flight booking website, and book a flight from Amsterdam to Paris. Leaving myself, let’s say, 3 days in Amsterdam. 

My Tenerife — Amsterdam flight is an airline protected connecting flight. I don’t have to worry about missing my connection (if previous flight is cancelled or delayed). The airline will take care of that — I will be booked on a new flight. But the last leg, Amsterdam — Paris, is a completely different matter. It’s a self-transfer with a stopover. It’s a separate flight, and I will need to check in for this flight separately. 

Are you booking a self-transfer like this, too? Leave plenty of time between the flights! You will need to go through passport control, collect your bag and check in before the second flight. This will take some time. If the connection time is very short, you might not make it in time for your next flight.

However, you don’t have to worry about the first flight, if it’s an airline protected flight, like in the example above. If you miss your connection due to delay or cancellation, the airline will take care of you.

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

Featured photo by Cor Gaasbeek from Pixabay