WizzAir Flight cancelled - no re-routing offered

steve1500

Wizz Air has cancelled our / all flights in April from Hurghada to Milan. We were / are going to connect to an Easy jet flight to Manchester.

WizzAir will not offer re-routing with another airline, plenty available just a refund

So means booking at possibly a higher price.

Can I take them to court in the UK for not complying with Article 8 of EU 261? If I have to pay more for the tickets

TIA

Ayr_Rage

With cancellation that far ahead I believe if they offer a full refund they have met their obligations under the EU regulations and you are not entitled to any compensation.

Newbie_John

That's why you should buy travel insurance as soon as you purchase your tickets.
EU/UK261 only works for changes made two weeks before the departure - otherwise just basic consumer rights - refund. 

Now it's either a direct flight to UK, or another airline via Milan - whatever is cheaper.

This is the problem with connecting flights when tickets are purchased separately, it sometimes happens sadly.

eskbanker

I agree with OP and disagree with the above posters!

OP isn't seeking compensation under articles 5 and 7 (which wouldn't apply to cancellations more than 14 days in advance) but is making the valid point that article 8 (rerouting) doesn't have any such time restriction, so an airline cancelling a flight at any time has an obligation to arrange rerouting, at least theoretically.

Westin

Easyjet fly Hurghada - Manchester direct.   As I believe does TUI.   Curious as to why you picked two separate airlines, on two separate bookings, via a connection point in Italy.  

You could of course take them to court if you feel that action is warranted - but this could be timely, costly and no guarantee of an outcome you desire now.

Might you be better just taking the refund and booking a direct flight HRG MAN with another airline and consider direct routing options on one carrier for future travel?  Much easier I would think.
 

steve1500

The reason for Man MXP HRG £180  return £ 800 Direct per person. Four of us £2480 is a pretty good reason

All legs booked

Insurance doesn't count as the Xs exceeds the price of the canceled flight

Article 8 when a flight is cancelled gives you three options Refund, another flight with the same airline, or another Airline

Since they won't offer another Airline and can't offer another flight, has to be Easyjet to Milan. 

The question is, if it costs more for the HRG - MXP than I originally paid, can I take them to Court in the UK as they are an EU Airline or because flying into Italy does it have to be through the Italian system

eskbanker

steve1500 said:

Article 8 when a flight is cancelled gives you three options Refund, another flight with the same airline, or another Airline

That's not the way it's actually worded - the three options are refund, rerouting asap, or rerouting later if acceptable to the passenger, so there's no actual mention of using other airlines.

The EU interpretative guidelines do mention the use of alternative carriers though:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016XC0615(01)

steve1500 said:

The question is, if it costs more for the HRG - MXP than I originally paid, can I take them to Court in the UK as they are an EU Airline or because flying into Italy does it have to be through the Italian system

This has come up recently in another thread, and one linked from it, where it's stated that international aviation conventions may offer the possibility of choosing jurisdictions:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81226420/#Comment_81226420

Newbie_John

Similar case to yours:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6511759/significant-wizz-air-alteration-advice-on-re-routing-on-alternative-airline

It kind of looks like that it very depends on the person you talk to - so try calling multiple times until someone confirms that you can "reroute" - or swap your return for the direct flight to MAN (although my understanding is that similar route means Egypt - Italy).