Many budget airlines don’t offer connecting flights.
If you want a connecting flight with budget airlines, often the only way is to book a self-transfer. It can be with one or several airlines. Let’s assume, you have two flights. One flight is with Wizz Air, another — with Ryanair. This is just one of the possible scenarios. So, what happens if your flight is cancelled or delayed and you miss the next flight? Who is going to be held responsible in a situation like this? Who is going to pay compensation?
For this example we use Wizz Air and Ryanair.
Rules are the same with other airlines.
Self Transfer Flights: Definition
What is a self transfer? Self transfer flights?
Self-transfer is when you plan the connection yourself. It’s when you have two or more consecutive flights booked separately, under separate booking reference numbers. Such connections are not protected by the airline/airlines you are flying with. Simple because you have booked the flights separately. Passengers with self transfer are less protected than passengers travelling on an airline-protected connecting flight.
Ryanair & Wizz Air Self Transfer
You have booked two (or more) separate flights.
One of the flights is operated by Ryanair, and the other one — with Wizz Air. What will happen if you miss one of your flights due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight?
1. Your First Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled
First of all, self transfer is your responsibility.
None of the airlines are responsible if you miss anything.
In this case, you have to book a new flight to your destination and, if needed, book yourself into a hotel. This is your responsibility. It comes out of your pocket. In this case, the reason for delay and cancellation doesn’t matter. It’s your responsibility that you didn’t make it for your connection. Take that into account, and avoid booking flights with short connection time.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled by the airline, you may be entitled to receive some services from the airline, however conditions apply. If your first flight is cancelled last-minute (less than 14 days before departure) or delayed due to the airline’s fault, you may get compensation from the airline. But only for this particular flight, and only afterwards; you won’t get compensation for missed connection.
Read more: Wizz Air Flight Delay Compensation, Wizz Air Flight Cancellation Compensation (the EU law applies to Ryanair as well)
2. Your Last Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled
It’s the less stressful scenario.
In this case, you will get to your destination without losses. Because you won’t need to book a new flight. And you won’t need to book yourself into a hotel.
All you will have to do is to:
- Get a new ticket from the airline in case of flight cancellation;
- Wait for your delayed flight in case of flight delay.
If you have to wait at the airport for 3 or more hours, you are also entitled to receive care from the airline. If you have to wait overnight, the airline must provide you with a free hotel stay and transfer. The rules are the same with all airlines operating in the EU. More on this further below.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Connection?
The best option is to buy an airline-protected transfer.
But it’s not always an option. Another way you can protect yourself against flight disruptions, is by getting yourself a travel insurance that covers these mishaps.
Before buying travel insurance policy, check what does it cover. You’ll need an insurance that has travel disruption cover. It will compensate you for missed flights, unused hotel stays and bus/rail tickets, as well as enforced stays due to delay/cancellation of your flight.
If you are eligible to flight delay or cancellation compensation, insurance may still come in handy. Mostly insurance companies deal with these issues much quicker. Whereas it may take several months, sometimes up to 2-3 years, for the flight compensation to be paid out.
Right to Care
What if you have to wait at the airport?
There is this EU flight compensation regulation we talk a lot about on this site. It protects all passengers, and with all airlines. With airlines like Wizz Air and Ryanair it applies to all their flights to and from Europe. Even though you may not be entitled to a missed connection compensation, you may still have a right to care from Wizz Air or Ryanair.
If one of your flights is cancelled or delayed, and you are stuck at the airport for longer than 3 hours, you are entitled to receive care from the airline. The airline has to take care of you. No matter the circumstances, and if it’s your airlines fault or not.
- If you have to wait 3+ hours, your airline must provide you with free meal and drinks.
- If it’s an overnight delay — free hotel room and transportation to it.
If any of your flights is cancelled less than 14 days before departure or delayed due to the airline’s fault, you may also get compensation from the airline. There’s a myth — you can’t get a compensation if you accept a free hotel stay or free meal. Remember, it’s only a myth.
Read more: Right to Care (applies to both Wizz Air and Ryanair)
Featured photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels