I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but this experience with Smartwings left me no choice.I was flying from Dubai to Málaga via Prague and arrived at the airport fully prepared. I had my passport, booking, and official proof that my Spanish residency had already been approved. Spain was my final destination — my home.At check-in, the agent told me I could not board because of the Prague connection. I tried to explain, calmly, that I was legally allowed to enter Spain and showed my residency approval. It didn’t matter. The decision had already been made.Standing there, realizing I wasn’t going anywhere, was incredibly stressful.Because of that decision, I lost my flight and €360 in prepaid baggage fees. I then had to scramble to find another way home — buying a last-minute flight with a different airline, arranging taxis, paying for luggage help and storage. What should have been a normal trip turned into a very expensive and exhausting day.What hurts most is that this was avoidable. Airlines deal with residence permits and transit situations every day. A little care and proper verification would have saved me a lot of money and stress.I’ve submitted a formal claim with all documentation. I hope Smartwings reviews this case seriously — but for other travelers, I’d strongly recommend double-checking everything and being prepared for decisions at check-in that can completely derail your trip.
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