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Low-cost airline Wizz Air offers fixed-rate flights, consumer advocates warn

Broadcast United News Desk
Low-cost airline Wizz Air offers fixed-rate flights, consumer advocates warn

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Flying for less than ten euros sounds tempting, especially at a time when prices are rising. The airline Wizz Air is currently advertising the “Wizz All You Can Fly Membership”, in which all flights from Germany to other countries cost only 9.99 euros after paying the membership fee. But what is behind this? What should be noted and are there any restrictions? Here is an overview of all questions and answers.

What’s behind?Wiz all you Can it fly? This is the membership program of Wizz Air Hungary Ltd., which offers members various trips on Wizz Air flights. Its duration is twelve months. After registering on the company’s website, a one-time voucher fee of 499 euros (before August 16) or 599 euros (from August 16) must be paid. A flat rate of 9.99 euros must be paid additionally for each flight. The airline currently plans to offer a total of 10,000 All You Can Fly members. The first flights can be booked from September. Membership includes one piece of luggage, the dimensions of which must not exceed 40 x 30 x 20 cm.

Is there a cancellation deadline? If cancelled within the first 14 days and no flights have been booked, a full refund is available. If the voucher has already been redeemed and flights have been booked, the consumer will not be able to cancel the contract and will not receive a refund. In addition, once the cancellation period has expired, the subscription cannot be cancelled before the one-year period has expired. Unless cancelled, the subscription automatically renews every year. The introductory price is valid only for the first year of membership. From the second year onwards, the standard price applies.

What else should I consider? Tiana Schönbohm, consumer counsel at the Lower Saxony Consumer Center, said flights can only be booked 72 hours before departure, so the desired flight may no longer be available. This could result in restrictions during peak season or on popular routes. Schönbohm said traveling with family or with multiple people is not recommended because the number of seats is limited and seats cannot be guaranteed.

What do consumer advocates think of flat-rate fares for flights? “Anyone interested in this offer will inevitably have to look closely at the contract conditions, as there are many restrictions,” said Schönbohm. Oliver Buttler, consumer law consultant at the Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württembergsees the offer as a “very limited flat rate” with many catches and more of an “advertising gimmick”. “Wizz Air does not fly from every major airport in Germany, but from smaller outlying areas where passengers have to get there first,” he points out. Airports in the destination countries are often far from the usual tourist areas. Therefore, you have to expect high additional charges for arrivals and departures, baggage and seat reservations. “For an airline that wants to sell 10,000 tickets at this price, it’s a great thing to put a lot of money into it,” says Butler. However, he advises that companies should be careful about liquidity and bankruptcy risk issues if they want to get a lot of money up front at a flat rate. If flight operations stop, passengers will have no security. “You have to fly a lot to get that money back,” says Butler. “For someone who flies once or twice a year, you might as well book regularly and it will end up being cheaper.”

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