Wizz Air intentionally misleading its passengers? Hungarian authority investigates
The Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal, GVH) started an investigation against the Hungarian low-cost airline because it suspects that the airline misled its customers during the ticket-buying process. GVH believes that Wizz Air directs its customers to charge additional services, Hungarian media outlets said.
Wizz Air in trouble?
According to airportal.hu, GVH issued a statement today saying that Wizz Air probably engaged in misconduct during its ticket purchase process. The budget airline hides crucial information from the customers on its online platforms, GVH believes, to shepherd its customers to services that are charged with extra money.
GVH says that Wizz Air does not make it clear to its passengers that even if they choose the cheapest luggage option, they can add priority service and checked baggage. Furthermore, in the case of more expensive luggage options, the airline misleads its customers by stating that they might become more expensive if they book their seats only during check-in. That is only true in the case of cheaper luggage options.
Furthermore, Wizz Air capacitates its passengers to buy seats for a higher price during the online check-in by misleading terms and additional technical solutions.
Here is the announcement of the Hungarian authority:
Not the first time nor an unprecedented case in the industry
After a complex study conducted last autumn, GVH warned all airlines operating in Hungary to change their practices altering the customers’ intentions by concealed and hard-to-observe measures. They added that provided no change happened they might initiate examinations concerning fair competition rules.
Such practices are becoming more and more popular in Europe. For instance, the European Commission published a paper on the results of a similar examination spanning 25 countries. The aim was to discover the so-called “dark patterns” in online trade. Based on the results, most traders distort customers’ decisions with unfair methods. The language and appearance of their online platforms serve that purpose well, the EC paper added.
It is important to clarify that the investigation of the GVH concerning Wizz Air does not mean that the airlines committed a violation of the law. Instead, the purpose of it is to clear the facts and prove if there was any law-breaking. The GVH has three months to conduct the measure, but that can be prolonged two times by 2-2 months.
Read alsoExotic airline comes to Budapest with new flights this summer
Source: airportal.hu
13 Comments
Hope they will get the lawsuit of a lifetime and go out.
For reference purposes, I’m guessing the “paper” this directive:
https://e-justice.europa.eu/595/EN/unfair_commercial_practices_directive_200529
The Directive has applied since 12 December 2007. EU countries were supposed to incorporate this into national law by 12 June 2007…
I had a case in december booked 3 flights with them but the first one was cancelled the day I should have been flying Reykjavik-Budapest(mainly because of weather but some planes were flying and they knew ahead they wont, so why didnt they cancelled ahead)therefore I couldnt make it to my second destination which was suppose to be 2 days later early in the morning Budapest-Madeira, I had no chance to get to Budapest to get on the Madeira flight and they wouldnt reimburse me for those other flights, instead my only 2 options were, either loosing all the money and flights, or rebooke them but for an additional cost/ well thank you I did that and now it even might happen that even those flights wont happen to Madeira in April?? Whats going on and where could I turn not to loose all my money invested in them!
WIZZAIR ARE GOING BUST I GIVE THEM A YEAR, COME ON EASYJET
Hardly a huge scandal. Everyone with any experience flying these days knows that airlines such as Wizz have a million add-ons and that the baseline price includes little more than the flight itself. Wizz provides phenomenal value and long may it continue!
Agree with @michaelsteiner … Wizz is the closest thing we have to a national carrier – our lifeline, basically. Also – let’s not forget they were the only ones (with Ryanair) that kept flying pretty much all through COVID.
@Lee – Easyjet is none too keen on BUD – dropped a host of flights over the years. Neither is Ryanair. So – let’s educate Wizz rather than try to eradicate them.
A thief company….totally disappointed….cheap mentality to add extra money after showing low offers… Please avoid this wizz air there are certain better options…not recommended
If you are not a frequent flyer you can get caught out by Wizzair (and also Ryanair)
But the interesting thing is that despite all the threats on luggage alliwances both airlines are very lax about enforcing them.
If your bag is a bit bigger or heavier than you paid for then leave boarding the plane to the end. At that stage staff simply do not have the time to check overweight bags.
Booked 20th December, from Luton to Poznan between 8.02 and 12.02 for £23 free seats both ways. Flight on time and even landed 10mins early. No complaints whatsoever 👌
The worst cheap airlines I’ve ever flu with
One of the worst things wizzair has done is giving people a fine if they do not check in online before 3 hours of departure. People literally go to the airport for getting their check in done there. And they never send emails warning about the online check in. Not only was I fined half the flight’s price before, but also I witnessed many clueless customers having to pay this heavy fine because they had no idea they had to check in online. And the check in desk pretends as if they don’t know how much the fine is like they don’t always keep sending people to the service desk to pay this fine. It’s insane how they are trying to earn from the littlest ways from people.. In fact the prices are just the same as emirates if you book the same weight, except you get much better service with Emirates and don’t get crammed and treated like shit about the weight, size of backpack, etc. Also, I only needed 20kg once so when I clicked that option I found out later that that came along with a total of 40kg which means I could have avoided paying so much because I believed I was only buying 20kg. Tons of tricks you realise only after paying. Cheap ass behaviour. No appropriate food options either for all the costs. The flight attendants also seem embarrased to work there.
Wizz air charged me extra money for luggage yet I had paid for it. 38euros was so much. I was travelling from Budapest to Netherlands.They are rude as well
Wizz Air offers very good value for money. If you read the rules and stick to them, if you book early and use the Wizz Air Club Discount as a frequent flyer (for 40 EUR membership a year you save 10 EUR on each flight, for you and a companion if you are flying with one) you will be able to fly around Europe at very low prices. For very reasonable prices you can buy a good sortiment of drinks and foods on board.
Hungary doesn’t have a state-owned airline, so be happy that Wizz Air is connecting Budapest with the rest of Europe, Mediterranian, Persian Gulf and Central Asia so well. Moreover, they pay their corporate taxes in Hungary and the state budgets profits from them.