The captain has just announced you are landing in Katowice instead of Krakow. It is one of the most common scenarios at Balice during fog — and you have more rights than you might think. The key point: your airline is responsible for getting you to Krakow, even when the cause was weather.
What just happened?
Your aircraft could not land at Balice and used an alternate airport instead. For Krakow this is usually Katowice-Pyrzowice: it is the closest option, has a long runway and better equipment for landing in reduced visibility. Less frequently, flights are sent to Rzeszow-Jasionka, Warsaw or Wroclaw.
For the decision-making mechanism behind this, see Fog and flight diversions in Krakow. This guide focuses on what to do after you land.
The single most important rule
If the airline flew you to an airport other than the one on your ticket, it must cover the cost of transferring you to your booked destination (Article 8(3) of EU Regulation 261/2004). This obligation applies regardless of whether fog or a technical fault caused the diversion — bad weather does not cancel it.
Step by step: what to do after landing
- Do not rush out of the arrivals area. Wait for an announcement from the crew or ground staff — in most cases the airline arranges a coach to Krakow and communicates this at the gate or by the baggage belt.
- Find out where your checked baggage is going. This is the most common source of confusion — details below.
- Locate an airline or handling agent representative. They confirm whether a transfer is arranged and when it departs.
- If there is no transport, ask explicitly about reimbursement before arranging your own way to Krakow.
- Keep every receipt and ticket. Without them, recovering your money is virtually impossible.
Where do you collect your baggage?
Almost every passenger asks this while still on board. There are several scenarios, and the airline decides which one applies:
| Scenario | What happens to baggage | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers disembark in Katowice + coach transfer | Baggage is usually unloaded and travels with passengers or on a separate vehicle | Confirm at the belt whether you collect it here or only in Krakow |
| Technical stop, then onward flight to Krakow | Baggage stays in the hold — you collect it at Balice | Do not leave the aircraft or terminal without clear instructions from the crew |
| Flight terminated in Katowice | Baggage is delivered in Pyrzowice as on a normal arrival | Check whether your onward transfer is paid for by the airline |
If your baggage travelled to Krakow without you (or the other way round), report it immediately at the lost baggage desk and obtain a PIR report. Without that document, a later claim becomes far more difficult.
Getting from Pyrzowice to Krakow
Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport is roughly 100 km from Krakow. A realistic journey time is 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the time of day and traffic.
If the airline has not provided a coach, your practical options are a bus or shuttle towards Krakow, a connection into Katowice followed by a train, or a taxi or ride-hailing service (fastest, but most expensive). Timetables and prices change seasonally, so always check current connections on the day of travel — especially after midnight, when public transport is very limited and fog diversions frequently happen in the early morning hours.
Before you book a taxi yourself
Ask the airline staff for written confirmation (email, SMS or a note) that no transport will be provided. Airlines reimburse costs that are "reasonable and proportionate" — a night-time taxi with no alternative usually qualifies, but evidence that nothing else was available makes reimbursement considerably easier.
My car is parked at Balice
A frequent problem with diversions: your car is waiting at the airport car park while you land 100 km away. A coach arranged by the airline normally drops passengers at the Balice terminal, so in practice you do reach your car — just later than planned.
If you exceed your paid parking period, keep the parking ticket and your flight documents. The extra charge is sometimes accepted as a cost arising from the disruption, though this is not guaranteed and depends on the airline and the car park operator.
Compensation and the right to care are not the same thing
This is the most common misunderstanding after a diversion. The distinction works like this:
| Entitlement | Applies in fog? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer to your booked airport | Yes | The airline covers the cost of taking you from the alternate airport to your ticketed destination |
| Right to care | Yes | Drinks and meals in proportion to the waiting time, plus accommodation and transport if needed |
| Compensation of €250–600 | Usually no | Bad weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance, which releases the airline from paying |
In short: fog alone rarely produces a cash payout, but the airline cannot simply leave you stranded in Pyrzowice. The right to care and to a transfer always applies.
It is still worth checking the reason the airline recorded. If fog was disrupting traffic but your particular flight failed mainly because of the carrier's own operational problems, the assessment may differ. The specific circumstances decide, not a general weather announcement.
I have a connecting flight
If Krakow was only a transfer point within a single booking, the airline must offer you re-routing to your final destination. Approach the staff as quickly as possible — when many passengers are diverted at once, seats on later flights disappear fast.
With separate tickets bought independently, the situation is harder: the carrier operating the first leg generally accepts no responsibility for a missed flight booked separately. That is a good argument for allowing long connections during the fog season — see Best months to fly from Krakow.
How to check whether diversions are happening now
If you are waiting for someone at Balice or flying soon yourself, check the current operational situation — the data updates automatically:
You may also find fog information for Krakow and the departures and arrivals board useful.
See also
- Fog and flight diversions — why aircraft bound for Krakow fly to Katowice.
- Aircraft de-icing in winter — the other major cause of winter delays.
- Visibility at Krakow Airport — what RVR is and what the minima are.
- ILS in Krakow and fog — why the system has its limits.
- Is Krakow Airport open? — a quick data-based answer.
- Krakow Airport conditions — current operational status.
FAQ
Who pays for transport from Katowice to Krakow after a diversion?
The airline. If a carrier brings you to an airport other than the one on your ticket, it must cover the cost of the transfer to your booked destination under Article 8(3) of EU Regulation 261/2004. This obligation applies even when fog caused the diversion.
Will I get compensation if my flight was diverted because of fog?
Usually not. Difficult weather is treated as an extraordinary circumstance, which releases the airline from paying compensation of €250–600. You still keep the right to care (meals, drinks and accommodation if required) and to a free transfer to Krakow.
Where do I collect my baggage if the aircraft landed in Pyrzowice?
It depends on the airline's decision. When passengers disembark in Katowice, baggage is usually unloaded and travels with them. If the aircraft makes a technical stop and continues to Krakow, baggage stays in the hold and you collect it at Balice. Always confirm which applies before leaving the terminal.
How long does it take to get from Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport to Krakow?
The distance is about 100 km and a realistic journey time is 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the time of day and traffic. Public transport is very limited at night, so it is usually worth waiting for the coach arranged by the airline.
What should I do if the airline provides no transport?
Ask for written confirmation that no transfer will be provided, arrange your own journey and keep all receipts. Then submit a reimbursement claim to the airline. Costs that are reasonable and proportionate to the situation are refunded.
Which airports serve as alternates for Krakow?
Most often Katowice-Pyrzowice, as it is the closest and is well equipped for reduced visibility. Less frequently aircraft are sent to Rzeszow-Jasionka, Warsaw or Wroclaw. The choice depends on weather, fuel reserves and airport availability.