Official: Revolut and Wizz Air make a favourable decision for passengers!

Wizz Air has begun accepting Revolut cards for onboard purchases following a successful trial period that started in early June. Previously, passengers were unable to use Revolut cards during flights, as the airline did not accept prepaid cards, a category under which Revolut was initially classified.

The shift in payment policy

Before the change, Wizz Air consistently informed passengers that Revolut cards could not be used for in-flight transactions, Világgazdaság reports. This policy was mentioned by flight attendants and printed in the in-flight catalogue. The issue arose from Wizz Air’s refusal to accept prepaid cards, which included Revolut’s earlier offerings.

In 2022, Revolut transitioned its European customers from prepaid to debit cards, following its establishment as a licensed bank in Lithuania. Despite this shift, Wizz Air continued to block Revolut cards until launching the trial this past June. During the test period, the airline monitored Revolut card transactions to determine whether they could be fully integrated into the onboard payment system.

Official confirmation

According to Revinfo.hu, Wizz Air’s PR team confirmed the trial, stating: “Wizz Air confirms that for a trial period, we permitted the acceptance of Revolut cards for onboard payments. We are closely monitoring the results and will shape our business strategy accordingly.” Passengers soon reported the news on social media, noting that Revolut cards were now accepted on board, which led to positive reactions, especially from frequent Revolut users who had encountered issues in the past.

Why were Revolut cards previously rejected?

Wizz Air’s earlier ban on Revolut cards was tied to its policy against prepaid cards, which Revolut had issued before 2022. There may have also been concerns about fraud or transaction processing issues, although Wizz Air never publicly stated the specific reasons behind the restriction.

After Revolut switched to issuing debit cards in 2022, Wizz did not immediately update its onboard policy. Passengers often found the outdated restriction confusing, particularly as Revolut’s new debit cards functioned similarly to other accepted forms of payment. The restriction on Revolut was still mentioned in onboard catalogues, but this is no longer the case, and the airline’s online version has been updated.