Hungarian Competition Authority opens new investigation against Wizz Air

The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) started an investigation against the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air. That comes after the budget airline made passengers pay for their seats even 18 hours prior to take off.

According to 444.hu, one of their readers, János, wrote that Wizz Air makes its passengers pay for their seats even though they already bought the ticket. Otherwise, they are not able to do the check-in process. In the second phase of the online check-in procedure, the airline’s system does not show the third, free seat option. As a result, many may accept to pay some extra money for a service they do not want.

Wizz Air’s customer service support did not help János, and their press centre said that nothing irregular happened. They ran some tests and said the system worked perfectly. However, the Hungarian Competition Authority began an investigation into the issue. The process is ongoing, but the low-cost airline denies that they intentionally make their customers pay for their seats.

If we buy a ticket for a Wizz Air flight, we can pay extra money for a seat. That is how we can choose where to sit during the flight. Of course, this is extra service which is not obligatory to pay for. Those who would not like to can do the online check-in 24 hours before the take-off. Those paying extra for their seats can do so one month before their flight takes off.

Unfair commercial practice by Wizz Air?

However, János and other passengers said they experienced there was no free option in the online check-in system even though the flight was due in only 18 hours. János can prove that with screenshots. Once, he would have had to pay GBP 26 for a seat if he had wanted to travel. Wizz Air told János their system worked perfectly, but GVH‘s opinion differs.

They started an investigation due to unfair commercial practice, hvg.hu wrote. GVH wrote to the passenger that they have an ongoing investigation into the issue. They added they warned all airlines to abolish ticket selling and advertisement practices able to distort consumer decisions unnoticed. In October, they said that provided there were no changes on the market in that regard, they would start investigations.

Wizz Air did not acknowledge their possible mistake but promised to help the work of the GVH in all ways. Furthermore, they said they do everything to comply with all the relevant rules.

Interested in news about Wizz Air? HERE is an article about the new flights they announced for this autumn-winter period. In THIS article, you may read about the Wizz Air-Ryanair battle for Europe.

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5 Comments

Anonymous says:

27/10/2023 at 16:48

Long time reading and just wondering when wizzair purchased the dailynewshungary. Seems all they do is promote new routes and try to spin complains in a positive manner

I’m sure this won’t be published

Where is your ethics
Hetzmann Mercédesz says:

27/10/2023 at 18:24

Dead Reader, thank you for your input.

We would like to bring the following articles into your attention: Wizz flight cancelled but CEO may get GBP 100 mn bonus after making investors EUR billionaires (https://dailynewshungary.com/wizz-flight-cancelled-but-ceo-may-get-gbp-100-mn-bonus-after-making-investors-an-eur-billionaire/); Wizz Air in trouble: EU may investigate record high number of cancellations (https://dailynewshungary.com/wizz-air-in-trouble-eu-may-investigate-record-high-number-of-cancellations/); Romanian Economy Minister complains to Brussels about Wizz Air (https://dailynewshungary.com/romanian-economy-minister-complains-to-brussels-about-wizz-air/); Regulator brings enforcement action against Wizz Air — UPDATED (https://dailynewshungary.com/regulator-brings-enforcement-action-against-wizz-air/).

We hope that by reading these, you will see that Daily News Hungary does not only publish positive news about Wizz Air – we publish what may be relevant to our readership. You may also find articles about Ryanair on our news portal, if the Irish carrier is what you are more interested in. Thank you for reading us.
Youri says:

28/10/2023 at 17:22

Wizzair does not make you pay for a seat. The free seat is a randomly generated seat a few hours prior to the flight (12 hours) i travel with wizzair once a month always with a randomly generated seat a few hours prior to the flight unless i pay for a specific seat, dont understand how this even comes up, seems GVH doesnt do research or doesnt use wizzair, they even state that when checking in you can select a seat 48hour prior of flight or 12 hours prior for a free seat, they did it this way so people who pay for a seat have enough time to do a last minute seat change. Whichever is left is a free seat
DavidBolton says:

29/10/2023 at 09:13

I travel with wizz at least 4. Or five time a year
I do not care were on the plane I sit but what get me very upset is that when I do a booking for me and others and they are on the same booking that they don’t sit us together they say I have to pay extra WHY im don’t want to book as certain seat just all to sit together why is this not possible its just a money making sheme
Norbert says:

30/10/2023 at 14:49

I fly 50 plus times a year, a dozen or so with others. I have found most carriers (including low cost Easyjet and Transavia) will seat you together if you are under the same booking code. Particularly important if you are traveling with children or elderly.

Have seen the Wizz reseating circus on the plane – incentivize people to buy those add ons, I guess. Squeeze out that last HUF.