Wizz Air is a low-cost airline headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, with its main hub at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Founded in 2003, it launched its first flight in 2004 from Katowice, Poland, to London-Luton, benefiting from Hungary and Poland’s recent accession to the EU. Wizz Air serves many secondary and regional airports, aiming to provide the lowest-cost service in Central and Eastern Europe.
Each year, millions of passengers travel on Wizz Air, which operates 150 routes across 12 airports. In 2019, only 72% of Wizz Air flights were on time, which has led to numerous delay compensation claims. If you’ve experienced a flight delay or cancellation, here’s what you need to know to claim compensation from Wizz Air.
To determine if you are eligible to claim compensation from Wizz Air, you must meet the following basic criteria:
Next, determine the reason for your flight’s delay or cancellation. If the delay was caused by events outside the airline’s control – known as 'extraordinary circumstances' – you may not be eligible for compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include:
Wizz Air is not responsible for delays caused by these circumstances. However, if your flight was delayed due to one of the following reasons, you may be eligible for compensation:
To qualify for Wizz Air delay compensation, you must have arrived at your destination at least 3 hours later than planned. Compensation eligibility is based on the flight’s arrival time. If the flight makes up lost time during the journey and arrives less than 3 hours late, you may not be eligible.
In determining the actual arrival time, it is considered to be the moment when at least one of the airplane doors opens. If this happens 3 hours late or more, here is how much compensation you may be entitled to based on the flight length:
Delay Length | Flight Length | Amount |
---|---|---|
3 hours or more | Less than 1,500km | € 250 |
3 hours or more | Between 1,500km and 3,500km | € 400 |
3-4 hours | More than 3,500km, between an EU and non-EU airport | € 300 |
4 hours or more | More than 3,500km, between an EU and non-EU airport | € 600 |
Flight Refund can assist you with all questions about eligibility. Start your delayed flight claim with us, and we’ll guide you through the process.
For cancelled flights, the rules are simpler: if your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, you’re likely entitled to compensation unless it was due to extraordinary circumstances.
Flight Length | Amount Owed |
---|---|
More than 3,500km | € 600 |
1,500km–3,500km | € 400 |
Less than 1,500km | € 250 |
If Wizz Air cancels your flight, you’re also entitled to a full refund for the ticket price in addition to any compensation under EU 261.
If you’re bumped from a Wizz Air flight due to overbooking, this is almost always the fault of the airline, and you may be eligible for compensation. Overbooking happens when airlines sell more tickets than there are available seats, assuming some passengers won’t show up. However, if everyone shows up, passengers can be bumped.
There are also legitimate reasons for being denied boarding, such as being sick, inebriated, or not having the proper documents. In these cases, you may not be entitled to compensation.
In addition to compensation, passengers have rights while waiting for the next available flight or alternative transportation, such as:
If you’re delayed more than 5 hours, you may refuse the next available flight and request a return to your origin point or alternate transportation to your destination.
To make a Wizz Air compensation claim, save the following:
Always request a written reason for the delay or cancellation from the airline, even if it seems to fall under extraordinary circumstances. This information can be key in investigating your claim.
With TravelRefund, claiming compensation is easy. We’ll handle all communication with the airline and keep fighting for your claim, even if it requires multiple appeals or going to court. We operate on a no cure, no pay basis – meaning you only pay if we win.
Still have questions? Contact us today to get answers and start your Wizz Air compensation claim.