Wizz Air’s new offering has created a lot of hubbub in the aviation industry - but it’s important to read the small print before signing up.
ADVERTISEMENTA Europe-based carrier, voted as the worst airline in 2024 by consumer group Which?, has announced it’s launching a subscription service offering unlimited flights to those who sign up.
Hungarian Wizz Air’s “all you can fly scheme” is being offered at an introductory price for a limited time.
A year’s subscription will set you back €499 until 16 August before rising to €599.
The membership is inclusive of all flights across the company’s substantial international network, which boast some 950 routes across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
How will the scheme work - and is there a catch?
As with any subscription, it’s important to check the small print before rushing to sign up.
Despite Wizz Air’s offering being excellent value for money on paper, the budget airline’s cheap ticket prices mean those making use of the membership will need to be relatively frequent fliers.
Although the entire route is technically open to all pass holders, it’s only possible to book flights 72 hours before their departure time - meaning last-minute travellers won’t be guaranteed a seat.
This could cause a bottleneck when the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force this autumn, as airlines will reportedly be required to submit passenger information 48 hours before departure or face fines.
Due to the tight time frame, it’s also not suitable for people who like to plan ahead.
On top of the subscription fee, each pass holder will have to pay a separate, additional €9.99 flat fee per flight as an extra charge before they travel.
Baggage and seat selection costs also aren’t included - and they can range from a few euros to over a hundred depending on bag weight and the season of travel.
Will the all-you-can-fly pass save you money?
Nevertheless, if you were able to make full use of the pass, you might make a significant saving, especially in peak season - if there’s availability.
Currently, a last-minute return trip to Istanbul would set you back in the region of €250, meaning two such trips would technically mean the subscription had paid for itself.
If you’re not in need of unlimited flights, Wizz Air already has the option of a Multipass, which is charged monthly.
These flights, which must be booked five days ahead of departure, leave from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, the UK, the UAE, Albania, Poland and Italy.
ADVERTISEMENTMonthly prices range from €34.99 to €64.99 depending on the country you’re flying from - and offer a one-way flight every month to all international destinations. Despite being charged every month, there is a 12-month commitment to each of these subscriptions, too.
Are unlimited flight schemes a step backwards for sustainability?
While Wizz Air recorded the worst punctuality for three consecutive years in an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by PA News, it was named the "Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline" for the fourth consecutive year at the World Finance Sustainability Awards 2024.
With its new scheme encouraging unabated flying, it could stand to lose this title.
Some environmentalists have expressed their dismay over the new scheme.
ADVERTISEMENT"Wizz Air's decision to launch an ‘all-you-can-fly’ subscription service in the middle of a climate crisis is like adding wood to a burning fire,” Hannah Lawrence, spokesperson for campaign group Stay Grounded, told Euronews Travel. “It shows the industry has no intention of reducing their emissions and cannot be trusted.
"While Wizz Air stokes the fire just to boost their profits, it's those who have never set foot on a plane who will bear the biggest burden from the climate-wrecking emissions these flights will produce,” she adds.
Stay Grounded also called for an urgent ban on frequent flyer programmes, the introduction of a frequent flying levy, and investment in grounded transport, “in order to avoid the worst of climate breakdown”.
In response to criticism, a Wizz Air spokesperson told Euronews Travel that much of this concern is unfounded when it comes to their business model.
ADVERTISEMENT“The new product … in fact, contributes to maximising the load factor during the last 72 hours before the flight. High load factor is a crucial efficiency driver and leads to reduction in emission intensity,” they explained.
“Wizz Air is proud to have the lowest carbon emissions intensity among our airline competitors,” the spokesperson added.
The airline aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
What does Wizz Air have to say about the subscription service?
Despite criticism of Wizz Air, the airline is one of Europe’s busiest. Last year, their planes carried around 60 million passengers - that’s 17 million more than British Airways.
ADVERTISEMENT“We are thrilled to be the first to introduce this one-of-a-kind membership for travellers in Europe,” says Wizz Air spokesperson Silvia Mosquera. “The membership will give customers hundreds of spontaneous travel options for a fixed price, giving them freedom to fly whenever is convenient without paying extra.”
On its website, the flight company adds: “Once you have successfully paid for Wizz All You Can Fly, you can start booking your flights right away.”
Despite already being on sale, the subscription pass won’t be usable until 25 September.
Although it’s not yet clear how many people have taken up - or will take up - the offer, there are only 10,000 memberships available at present. These may be limited on a country-specific basis according to your airport of preference.
ADVERTISEMENTAfter purchasing one of the subscriptions, you have two weeks to change your mind before you’re locked in for a year.
