As you can see on Wizaair’s map, the airline flies several routes from Bucharest, but yet it has no spare aircraft and apparently no method (or process as I would call it) in place to get a spare aircraft if it needed one, like now. My assumption is that I am now sitting here waiting for another plane to complete its duties for the day before we can eventually depart. It would make more sense to me to spread the burden of one heavy delay across several routes, but it seems better for Wizzair to delay one flight load of passengers for 5 hours than a few different flights a few hours each. The next point is that there is no communication. None of the staff have been able to provide me an answer nor have the staff of the airport. Looking out the windows of this beautiful new(er) airport I see several Wizzair aircraft – one that has actually been grounded quite some time.
Aside from all that, I could honestly care less, but in this case its about the principle. I know my way around a few things and after a little research confirm that according to the EU’s airline delays and compensation rules, passengers are entitled to food from two hours delay. and rebooking and refunds from 5 hours of delay. (Sidenote: The law is incomplete because bureaucratic idiots once again created a loop hole – the longer the delay escalates – passengers get no new rights until ‘the next day’ – i.e. midnight – when accommodation will be provided.- Example: Wizzair just needs to keep open the idea there will be a flight at some point on the same day and they are in the clear.)
Had we known yesterday or during the course of the morning that this would happen, passengers like myself could have used the time a bit better. But keeping passengers in the same place might make some passengers grumpy, however makes life easy for the airline. Wizzair would have had to send text messages and/or e-mails to all of us to tell us what was going on. To do so incurs a cost, so they do not do it.
I have written their complaints department with quite some details – as I have had a few spare minutes and am keen on awaiting a response. Will keep you all posted.
P.S. – @Wizzair – I understand you are a low cost carrier and believe me I fully understand processes and procedures, but that extra bit of decent customer service will get you far in the long run. Don’t think that price is all that matters and customers will flock to you. There are plenty of other airlines that will do it just “that” much better. Thanks.
