Charged for a Boarding Pass?

Bluenunn_in_the_north

la531983 said:

Going via travel insurance is absolutely pointless, the excess would cost you more than the 49 euros.

Wizzair had this message on their app.

bagand96

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

I checked in, or tried to around 4pm, the flight took off at 7:30, boarding was at 18:45. I didn't receive any communication from Wizzair at all for checking in.

Your flight departure time was 18:45.  Wizzair close online check-in 3 hours prior to departure time, which would be 15:45.  This is why the Wizzair app/website wouldn't allow check-in at that time.

You won't have had any communication from Wizzair, because when you book via an agent the agent will enter their contact details and not your own. 

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

Emily_Joy said:

What stopped you from doing online check-in via the website?

I was directed to the app via the email link.  I didn't try the website after the app accepted my data and bugged out on me. At that point I thought I'd  have no issue queuingbat the desk and getting one printed off for free, so it was moot.

eDreams obviously directed you to their own app (probably in the hope they can upsell you more add-ons during check-in).  Just to be clear, when did you try and check-in via eDreams? Was that also around 16:00?  If so, that's likely why the check-in with them failed (they can't override the airline policies).

Even when booking via an agent, always try and do as much as you can directly with the airline, but especially things like check in. Ideally just book directly with the airline in the first place rather than OTA's with poor service.

Voyager2002

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

la531983 said:

Going via travel insurance is absolutely pointless, the excess would cost you more than the 49 euros.

It's £50 but I'm putting a claim for the passport, extra accomodation, flight etc  so worth it..

This is obviously a separate incident so another £50 excess.

Bluenunn_in_the_north

bagand96 said:

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

I checked in, or tried to around 4pm, the flight took off at 7:30, boarding was at 18:45. I didn't receive any communication from Wizzair at all for checking in.

Your flight departure time was 18:45.  Wizzair close online check-in 3 hours prior to departure time, which would be 15:45.  This is why the Wizzair app/website wouldn't allow check-in at that time.

You won't have had any communication from Wizzair, because when you book via an agent the agent will enter their contact details and not your own. 

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

Emily_Joy said:

What stopped you from doing online check-in via the website?

I was directed to the app via the email link.  I didn't try the website after the app accepted my data and bugged out on me. At that point I thought I'd  have no issue queuingbat the desk and getting one printed off for free, so it was moot.

eDreams obviously directed you to their own app (probably in the hope they can upsell you more add-ons during check-in).  Just to be clear, when did you try and check-in via eDreams? Was that also around 16:00?  If so, that's likely why the check-in with them failed (they can't override the airline policies).

Even when booking via an agent, always try and do as much as you can directly with the airline, but especially things like check in. Ideally just book directly with the airline in the first place rather than OTA's with poor service.

No. That 18:45 is not a departure time. It is a gate opening time. I was there waiting. The flight departed after 7:30. It is misleading information as I busted a gut to get to the gate as I thought it closed at 18:15, only to arrive and the gate staff weren't even there and everyone was relaxing. Therefore I was within the time limit.

I looked at the Wizzair app way before check-in closed, no option for BP. Plus I went to their desk. They could have given me a BP then.

The app error message didn't mention anything about check-in close times. It allowed me to input all my data, then said 'please see below for more information '. There was nothing below.

Bluenunn_in_the_north

Voyager2002 said:

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

la531983 said:

Going via travel insurance is absolutely pointless, the excess would cost you more than the 49 euros.

It's £50 but I'm putting a claim for the passport, extra accomodation, flight etc  so worth it..

This is obviously a separate incident so another £50 excess.

I put in multiple items into a previous claim so we'll see how that transpires.

Not great though is it European police stealing/losing my passport.

Pollycat

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

Voyager2002 said:

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

la531983 said:

Going via travel insurance is absolutely pointless, the excess would cost you more than the 49 euros.

It's £50 but I'm putting a claim for the passport, extra accomodation, flight etc  so worth it..

This is obviously a separate incident so another £50 excess.

I put in multiple items into a previous claim so we'll see how that transpires.

Not great though is it European police stealing/losing my passport.

What were the police doing with your passport in the first place?

Bicycleman22

Wizzair Rome Fumichino - London Gatwick is scheduled to leave at 18.45 every day of the week.

eskbanker

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

bagand96 said:
Your flight departure time was 18:45.  Wizzair close online check-in 3 hours prior to departure time, which would be 15:45.  This is why the Wizzair app/website wouldn't allow check-in at that time.

No. That 18:45 is not a departure time. It is a gate opening time. I was there waiting. The flight departed after 7:30. It is misleading information as I busted a gut to get to the gate as I thought it closed at 18:15, only to arrive and the gate staff weren't even there and everyone was relaxing. Therefore I was within the time limit.

As above, the scheduled departure time is 18:45 - on 17 April the actual departure was indeed later, at 19:30, but of course the automated check-in cutoff will be applied relative to the scheduled time, rather than reflecting a delay on the day....

bagand96

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

bagand96 said:

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

I checked in, or tried to around 4pm, the flight took off at 7:30, boarding was at 18:45. I didn't receive any communication from Wizzair at all for checking in.

Your flight departure time was 18:45.  Wizzair close online check-in 3 hours prior to departure time, which would be 15:45.  This is why the Wizzair app/website wouldn't allow check-in at that time.

You won't have had any communication from Wizzair, because when you book via an agent the agent will enter their contact details and not your own. 

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

Emily_Joy said:

What stopped you from doing online check-in via the website?

I was directed to the app via the email link.  I didn't try the website after the app accepted my data and bugged out on me. At that point I thought I'd  have no issue queuingbat the desk and getting one printed off for free, so it was moot.

eDreams obviously directed you to their own app (probably in the hope they can upsell you more add-ons during check-in).  Just to be clear, when did you try and check-in via eDreams? Was that also around 16:00?  If so, that's likely why the check-in with them failed (they can't override the airline policies).

Even when booking via an agent, always try and do as much as you can directly with the airline, but especially things like check in. Ideally just book directly with the airline in the first place rather than OTA's with poor service.

No. That 18:45 is not a departure time. It is a gate opening time. I was there waiting. The flight departed after 7:30. It is misleading information as I busted a gut to get to the gate as I thought it closed at 18:15, only to arrive and the gate staff weren't even there and everyone was relaxing. Therefore I was within the time limit.

Others have already pointed this out, as in your Wizzair screen shot your flight's (W46003) scheduled departure time was 18:45. The time the flight actually boarded and took off is not relevant, flights have delays all the time, but the schedule departure was 18:45, so online check-in closed at 15:45.  Any attempt to online/app check-in after 15:45 would fail.

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

I looked at the Wizzair app way before check-in closed, no option for BP. Plus I went to their desk. They could have given me a BP then.

Wizzair could have given you a boarding pass.  But like other low cost airlines (Ryanair, Jet2 etc) they charge for airport check-in. Online or mobile check-in is free of charge.

Your Wizzair screenshot also shows:

 "Mobile check in is not available for this flight. Passengers must proceed to the Wizzair check-in desk for document check and to collect their boarding card before proceeding through security"

This is a little ambiguous.  It does seem to be a quirk flying from some Italian airports that mobile boarding passes are not available.  This is why the Wizzair app would not show you a BP.  What is usually means in practice is that pax must still complete the online check in process via the website or app, and then just pick up the boarding pass at the airport after a document check.  However, the Wizzair statement is a little ambiguous as it actually says "mobile check-in not available" not "mobile boarding pass not available". 

You could go back to Wizzair and ask that question.   I still expect they'll say you should have completed online check-in but it's worth asking if you're determined to take it further.

Bluenunn_in_the_north said:

The app error message didn't mention anything about check-in close times. It allowed me to input all my data, then said 'please see below for more information '. There was nothing below.

Which app?  Wizzair or eDreams? You've previously stated you used the the eDreams app to check-in, this is a third party app with no relation to Wizzair.

Emily_Joy

bagand96 said:

Wizzair could have given you a boarding pass.  But like other low cost airlines (Ryanair, Jet2 etc) they charge for airport check-in. Online or mobile check-in is free of charge.

Your Wizzair screenshot also shows:

 "Mobile check in is not available for this flight. Passengers must proceed to the Wizzair check-in desk for document check and to collect their boarding card before proceeding through security"

This is a little ambiguous.  It does seem to be a quirk flying from some Italian airports that mobile boarding passes are not available.  This is why the Wizzair app would not show you a BP.  What is usually means in practice is that pax must still complete the online check in process via the website or app, and then just pick up the boarding pass at the airport after a document check.  However, the Wizzair statement is a little ambiguous as it actually says "mobile check-in not available" not "mobile boarding pass not available". 

If you go to Wizzair.com -> Information and Services -> Check-In -> Mobile Check-In you will see that mobile check-in and boarding passes are available for the route: