Czech Airlines is one of the largest and most popular air carriers in the republic. She has everything to take leading positions not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Europe: experience, an excellent base, and most importantly - the desire to help people. Having got to know this air carrier better, it will be possible to decide whether it is worth going on a journey using its services.
What you need to know about the airline
Czech Airlines is one of the oldest aviation companies in Europe. It began its work in 1923, and to this day continues to provide services, entering the TOP-10 of the largest European airlines. As a joint stock company headed by Josef Sinchak, Czech Airlines is now part of the SkyTeam global aviation alliance.
In its activities, the airline prefers charter flights, but at the same time carries out cargo transportation. Medium and long-haul flights are operated by modern aircraft that take passengers to different parts of the world.
Today the company has 17 airliners at its disposal.
The company has several offices around the world. Its main office is located in Prague at the address: Jana Kašpara, 1069/1. The base airport of the company, named after Vaclav Havel, is also located in Prague.
Citizens of many countries can contact Czech Airlines offices in their home country. For example, the company has its own representative office in Moscow. It is located at the address: 3rd Tverskaya-Yamskaya street, 31-35. In addition, a full-fledged version of the site in Russian has been developed for Russian-speaking clients.
Directions of the airline
Using the services of Czech Airlines, in 2021 you will be able to visit Bulgaria, Albania, Armenia, Vietnam and Hungary. In addition, the company's planes fly to Belarus, Russia, Poland (Wroclaw). Many flights are made to the countries of Western Europe: Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy. There are also flights to the USA, Asia and the Middle East.
Serves the company and lines within the country, in particular, in Karlovy Vary and Ostrava.
According to statistics, Czech Airlines passengers most often fly to Moscow, Paris, London and Madrid. And one of the most popular routes is Prague - Rome.
In Ukraine, the planes of this airline are accepted only by two cities - Kiev and Odessa. In Belarus, Czech Airlines airliners land exclusively in Minsk.
But in Russia, Czech Airlines are very popular. The aircraft of this airline fly to the following Russian cities:
- Kazan;
- Rostov-on-Don;
- Samara;
- St. Petersburg;
- Ufa;
- Ekaterinburg.
At the same time, Moscow remains the main airport for Czech Airlines. Its liners land at the largest metropolitan airport - Sheremetyevo.
Air transport Czech Airlines
The air fleet of Czech Airlines includes 17 modern aircraft. Nine of them are manufactured by the largest concern Airbus. These liners operate on medium-haul and long-haul routes.
For short-haul flights, the company uses ATR (turboprop) aircraft. The company has 8 of them.
Let's take a closer look at the company's aviation fleet:
1. Airbus A330. The company has one such plane. The maximum number of passengers is 276 people. Flight speed and altitude - 913 km / h, 12 621 m. The maximum distance is 10 186 km.
2.Airbus A319-112. The company has 8 such aircraft. Three aircraft configurations are used: for 144, 142 and 140 passengers. The speed and altitude at which the aircraft can fly is 870 km / h, 12,134 m. The distance that the aircraft can cover without refueling is 5,834 km.
3.ATR 72-500. The company has five such aircraft in three configurations: 64, 60 and 58 seats. Flight speed and altitude - 695 km / h, 7,621 m. At the same time, without refueling, it flies 1,556 km.
4.ATR 42-500. The company has three such aircraft for 48, 43 and 41 passengers. The board can fly at speeds up to 695 km / h at an altitude of 7,621 m. At the same time, the maximum distance that it travels is 1,389 km.
All the sides are in good condition, and the presented layout of the interior of each of them will allow you to choose the best seat.
How and where you can buy tickets
The official website of the company has a very convenient form that allows you to purchase tickets to any destination. In order to start the purchase procedure, you should go to the Czech Airlines website - www.czechairlines.com.
- On the site, you will see windows in which you need to indicate the starting point and the place where you want to land. Here you can also indicate on what date you want to buy a ticket and select the category of passengers.
- Next, you should choose the time of the flight and the appropriate tariffication.
- If necessary, order additional services - the airline offers lounges, extra baggage and more.
- Next, you should indicate the name and surname of the passenger, his phone number and e-mail address.
- When booking flights, you can specify which menu you prefer (vegan, diabetic, no salt or gluten).
- Stop at one of the available payment methods (card, bank transfer, WebMoney, etc.).
If all the data has been entered correctly, and the money has been sent, you will receive a message to your email address that the purchase has been made and you will receive an electronic ticket. You can already apply for a seat on the plane using the e-ticket number.
How to check in for an airline flight
Czech Airlines offers a very convenient way to check in before boarding the plane. More precisely, there are two ways:
- online, through the company's website;
- standard - at the airport.
In the first case, the procedure is very simple, since the official website is in Russian, which means that nothing needs to be translated from English or Czech. But still, standard registration is more familiar. Let's consider both options.
How is online registration done?
Virtual check-in can start 36 hours before departure. It should be borne in mind that registration ends one hour before dispatch.
Online registration takes place as follows:
- You go to the site and enter your name.
- Next, you need to specify the booking code if the seat has just been ordered, or the e-ticket number if the purchase has already been made.
- The system will carry out your identification, after which the function of choosing a flight, passenger type and additional services will become available.
- The boarding pass will then appear. You need to print it out immediately or send it to your email address to do it at the airport.
Passengers who have the OK 3000-5999 code on their ticket will not be able to check in online. This method is also unavailable to passengers requiring assistance services (disabled, unaccompanied children) and passengers of the airline's partner companies.
How to check in at the airport
In order to check in at the airport, the following options are provided:
- Near the counter. You can clarify which counter you need in the same place as the flight schedule - on the information board. Just do not go to the counters marked BAGGAGE DROP-OFF - these are the places where passengers who have already passed part of the procedure through the company's mobile application or self-check-in kiosk check in.
- Kiosk. They are not available at all major airports that cooperate with the company, but in Prague they can be found. You need to have a payment card, a foreign passport, 2D barcodes on the ticket, and the ticket number must be entered manually. The instructions are pretty simple: the machine will tell you what to do and print your boarding pass.
You need to arrive at check-in at least two hours before departure, or better yet.
Tariffs
You can find out more about the current fares on the official website of the airline. It should be noted that different fares are provided for each class of passengers.In particular, for travelers flying in cheaper economy class, the company offers the following service packages:
- Lite. This package is designed for passengers who want to save as much as possible. Its price includes only the transportation of a person and his hand luggage. Available on all flights except Seoul and Riyadh.
- Plus. Its price includes carry-on luggage and baggage for 1 person, seat selection in the cabin. However, this package does not include ticket refunds.
- Flex. The price of this package includes the possibility of booking and refunding the ticket (by paying for the service), SkyPriority, in-flight meals (light snack).
For passengers who are accustomed to traveling with increased comfort, business class is more suitable. They are offered the following service packages:
- Business. The cost of this package is the highest available option. But it allows you to adjust the travel schedule, change dates with payment of the difference in the cost of the ticket, or even return it for free. In addition, the package price includes a lot of additional services.
- Business lite. The services that are presented in the package are practically the same as in the usual "Business", but their cost is lower. The only exception is that the change of the departure date is paid for, and ticket refunds are not possible.
If you change the date of departure / arrival, you will have to pay from 60 euros.
Baggage requirements
The baggage system is quite complex, but it is necessary to understand it.
Hand luggage is a passenger's personal belongings. They are usually not checked in as checked baggage as they may be needed during the flight. Most often, medicines, jewelry, gadgets, documents, etc. are carried in hand luggage.
Each tariff package has its own rules for free carriage of hand luggage:
| Tariff package Class | LITE Economy | PLUS Economy | FLEX Economy | BUSINESS LITE Business | BUSINESS Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand luggage up to 8 kg with dimensions 55 x 45 x 25 cm (including handles, casters and pockets) | 1st place | 1st place | 1st place | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Small personal handbag up to 3 kg with dimensions 40 x 30 x 15 cm | - | 1st place | 1st place | 1st place | 1st place |
These are general baggage allowances. It is important to take into account the indicated dimensions and weight, otherwise the bag simply will not fit in a special box.
If children are flying on the plane without a reserved seat, they are not entitled to carry-on baggage. If a seat is booked, they are subject to the same rules as adults.
- Checked baggage. Here, the rules and regulations also depend on which package of services the passenger has chosen. The dimensions and weight of the baggage are taken into account - you need to check in if the weight exceeds 23 kg or the size of the item is larger than 250 cm. Details in the table:
| LITE Economy | PLUS Economy | FLEX Economy | BUSINESS LITE Business | BUSINESS Business | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free baggage | Short and medium haul flights: | - | Up to 23 kg | Up to 23 kg | 2 pieces, up to 32 kg | |
| Flight to / from Seoul: | 2 pieces, up to 23 kg each | |||||
| Benefits for OK Plus Members | + 1 piece up to 23 kg | + 1 piece up to 32 kg | ||||
Valuables and money, documents, glasses, keys, electronics, musical instruments cannot be transported in checked baggage - they must be transported as valuable / fragile items.
- Excess baggage. If the size or weight of items does not meet the free baggage allowance, the rates are as follows:
| Short flights and flights Europe + Middle East (per seat) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| More than 36 hours before departure | 25 euros | |
| Less than 36 hours before departure | 35 euros | |
| Before boarding | 45 euros | |
| Flights to / from Seoul: | Economy PLUS, FLEX | Business BUSINESS LITE, BUSINESS |
| Before departure | 60 euros | |
| Near the boarding gate | 70 euros | |
- Flight with animals. It should be borne in mind that not all countries are allowed with animals. You need to book the transportation of pets through the contact center. The animal must be placed in a spacious but reliable enclosure with dimensions not exceeding 125 x 69 x 80 cm. On the box, you must indicate your phone number and pay for the carriage upon boarding.
| Animal weight | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 23 kg | 1620 CZK |
| 23 to 32 kg | 3240 CZK |
| 32 to 50 kg | 4680 CZK |
| More than 50 kg | 6480 CZK |
Pets can be transported in the cabin, but only if it is a cat / dog, placed in a box with dimensions of 43 x 30 x 27 cm and weighing up to 8 kilograms. The cost of transportation is 1620 CZK.
Base airport of the company
The base airport of Czech Airlines is the airport. Vaclav Havel in Prague. It is located 15 kilometers from the city center. It is the largest airport in the Czech Republic with 4 terminals:
- No. 1 - used for flights from countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Flights from Sheremetyevo land in this terminal;
- No. 2 - for flights from countries that are part of the Schengen area. From this terminal there are flights to Germany, Poland and other European countries;
- No. 3 - used for charter flights. From here, passengers can board long-haul planes.
- No. 4 - intended for official government delegations.
This airport was previously known as Ruzyne. You can learn more about this from the article "Airports of the Czech Republic".
What additional services does the airline provide
Additional services include:
- Seat selection: at the window - from 6 to 10 euros, at the emergency exit - from 15 to 20 euros. Prices for Standard tariff owners. Free for the rest. However, you will only be able to book a seat if you bought a ticket at least 28 hours before departure.
- Menu. For economy class passengers, the higher class menu will cost from 8 euros for cold dishes and up to 15 euros for hot dishes. A hot menu is provided for a flight that lasts more than 3 hours, and a cold menu can be ordered by passengers flying to any city - both Minsk and Rome. The order can be placed no later than 24 hours before departure and paid for a maximum of 72 hours. Free meals are not served on flights less than 5 hours in duration.
- Passengers departing from Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague can pay for the Lounge service. It costs 18 euros and is free for business class passengers.
- Flight of unaccompanied children. The provision of this service must be consent from the child's parents. The cost is from 50 to 75 euros. Children from 5 to 11 years old and from 12 to 17 years old (on request) can fly. In this case, the ticket must be bought at an adult tariff.
- Oxygen. The balloon will cost 80 euros. The service is requested no later than 48 hours before the trip. It can only be provided on board ATR42, A319 and A320.
In this case, the most important thing is to pay for everything on time, otherwise the order will be canceled.
What loyalty programs does the company offer?
The company offers two loyalty programs - OK Plus and OK Plus Corporate. The essence of each of these programs is that after registering (absolutely free), the member begins to accumulate miles. When you have accumulated a certain number of miles, you can use them.
The company offers various interesting options for where to spend bonuses. For example, you can go to Rome or any other city. Also, these bonuses can go to improve the conditions of your flights. In particular, it is possible to improve the flight class at no additional cost.
You can also receive bonuses if you use the services of partner companies, and Czech Airlines has more than 90 of them. To earn miles you need to:
- fly often;
- use the services of partner hotels of the program;
- rent cars from partner companies of the program;
- use banking services under the terms of the program.
You can learn more about the terms of loyalty programs by calling the hotline of the Russian branch of the company: +7 499 653-71-44, +7 863 322-00-58.
FAQ
The airline tries to make cooperation with customers as simple as possible, but sometimes passengers have questions. We will try to answer the frequently encountered ones:
Where can I check the schedule?
The flight schedule should be viewed at the airport, as this is where the most up-to-date information is displayed. If your flight was canceled or postponed at the last moment, you can find out about it from the scoreboard. However, the airline's website has a useful section with contacts, using which you can also get the necessary information.For example, you can check the schedule by calling the phone number +420 239 007 575.
How to return a ticket?
There are two options: use the online return form. This option is very convenient, but only if the ticket was bought through the website. If the ticket was purchased at the airport ticket office, you need to find the contacts of this airport and agree on the return on the spot.
Can i take a wheelchair on the plane?
You can take a wheelchair on board, but there is one condition: you can use this service only on Airbus A319 and A330 aircraft. In addition, the airline limits the number of passengers with disabilities on board, so a special bulletin must be filled in before purchasing a ticket.
How to track the cargo and what to do if it is lost?
If your baggage did not arrive with you or something happened to it, you can contact the airport staff at a special counter for help. You will recognize it by the large BAGGAGE CLAIMS lettering.
Also, your cargo can be searched according to the invoice presented by you. In addition, air waybill tracking is easy to do on the website. Other nuances of solving the problem can be found here.
Finally
Czech Airlines rightfully occupies a leading position in the ratings of the best air carriers operating international and local flights. Despite her solid work experience, she keeps up with the times, offering a variety of services and promotions. For example, any traveler can significantly upgrade the class of services provided to him for miles and coupons collected through participation in the OK Plus loyalty program.
The company's friendly attitude towards people with disabilities, children who, due to circumstances, are forced to fly alone without an adult, and other passengers are especially pleasant. The Russians who are Czech Airlines clients do not have to complain either - the high-quality Russian-language version of the site allows them to order most of the services without resorting to the help of an interpreter. In addition, you can save a lot by using promo codes of promotions and special offers that often appear on the site.
