Cancelled flights with Wizz Air

Cityboy_2

Simmi wrote: »

I have recently booked return flights with Wizz Air only to be informed today that they are cancelling the whole route so will not be able to fly at all.

I was wondering what I am entitled to in this instance as I do not feel only a refund is sufficient, these tickets where booked a month ago and so all other flights are now much more expensive ruling out other airlines and holiday destinations.

Am I entitled to compensation?

Thanks

Contrary to some of the advice posted earlier in this thread, you are entitled to choose between a refund of your ticket or to be re-routed by the airline. If that means the airline has to pay for you to be routed on another carrier, then that is their problem.

The regulation (EC 261/2004) states:

Article 8
Right to reimbursement or re-routing
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between:
(a) - reimbursement within seven days, by the means provided for in Article 7(3), of the full cost of the ticket at the price at which it was bought, for the part or parts of the journey not made, and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to the passenger's original travel plan, together with, when relevant,
- a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity;
(b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity;

A similar situation occurred recently on MSE with BMI cancelling a route on which it had sold tickets for flights: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2287415

My advice was the same in that thread and in the end the OP's flight was reinstated but the fact remains that you must be given the choice as detailed above.

You would only be entitled to compensation (additional to your rights above) if the cancellation occurred less than 2 weeks before you were due to fly.

jollyme

Some years back Easyjet delayed the start of their route to Istanbul resulting in flights being cancelled. We rebooked with BA as soon as possible and Easyjet paid the cost difference as well as refunding the cost of the Easyjet flight. We were so relieved that we didn't seek compensation for the journey to/from a different airport - not sure if we'd have been re-imbursed that

Cityboy_2

jollyme wrote: »

Some years back Easyjet delayed the start of their route to Istanbul resulting in flights being cancelled. We rebooked with BA as soon as possible and Easyjet paid the cost difference as well as refunding the cost of the Easyjet flight. We were so relieved that we didn't seek compensation for the journey to/from a different airport - not sure if we'd have been re-imbursed that

This would be the correct way for Wizz Air to handle the OP's situation so I suggest that the OP contacts Wizzair now they are aware of their full rights regarding this.

cogito

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

& the big time, down side of booking non-refundable accomodation.

Like you, I usually book my holidays myself, lumping together all of the seperate elements. Unlike you, I've never been the unfortunate position of having my flights cancelled, but I've always used a 'full service' airline, rather than a no-frills, ultra economy airline.

Lucky you. Malaysian Airlines sh@ on me from a great height cancelling a route so it's not only the cheapo airlines.

Murphy_The_Cat

cogito wrote: »

Lucky you. Malaysian Airlines sh@ on me from a great height cancelling a route so it's not only the cheapo airlines.

did Malaysian Airlines reroute you, or send you via another carrier ?

stoneman

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

did Malaysian Airlines reroute you, or send you via another carrier ?

They would not have been obliged to unless it is in their T&C's as they are not party to EU regulations. By the tone of the post I assume not.

Murphy_The_Cat

stoneman wrote: »

They would not have been obliged to unless it is in their T&C's as they are not party to EU regulations. By the tone of the post I assume not.

oh dear
In the past AA have cancelled, altered and withdrawn some of the routes that I've been flying on, but they've always rearranged things with an acceptable solution for me.:beer: