”Wizz Air" is Hungary's low-cost airline.
"Wizz Air" is one of the indispensable airplanes for traveling in Europe, with a one-way trip costing around 25 USD at the cheapest. (Luggage storage and seat selection are optional.)
"Wizz Air" is such a great deal, but you need to be careful when making a reservation and check-in.
This article is especially for the following conditions.
- You booked through another travel agency's website, not through the official website of "Wizz air".
- After the reservation was confirmed, the flight time was changed.
What may happen in this case is that "online check-in is not available".
Based on my experience, I will summarize this in detail and introduce some countermeasures.
"Wizz air" requires online check-in at least 3 hours in advance
Basically, when using "Wizz air", you must check in online at least 3 hours prior to departure time.
Once this is done, as long as you do not have any checked baggage, etc., you can go through the baggage check as soon as you arrive at the airport and enter the gate.
If you forget to check in online at least 3 hours in advance, you will need to check in at the airport counter, where you will be charged a check-in fee of approximately 50 USD (I was once charged 16,000 yen...).
This "online check-in" is super important when you use "Wizz air" because as a rule, it is not possible to check in at the counter.
Booking on another travel agency website + Flight time changes
Now, here's the main thing.
- You booked through another travel agency's website, not through the official website of "Wizz air".
- After the reservation was confirmed, the flight time was changed.
Other travel agency websites" include "Skyticket", "Skyscanner, and "Trip.com".
If you fall under this condition, what can happen is that you will not be able to check in online.
If there is a change in flight time, you will need to check your flight again and usually choose "accept flight change" or "change flight time, cancel". After that, the procedure seems to be that you can check in online.
However, if you have another travel agency in between, the information that your flight time has been changed will be reflected, but you will not be able to accept or cancel the flight change from the travel agency's website, so you will not be able to check in online.
In other words, when you try to check in online from the "Wizz air" website and you get a message like "Online check-in is not available", there is nothing you can do online anymore.
There is one solution.
Check-in at the counter at the Airport
To explain in more detail.
Go to the "Wizz air" counter at the airport at least 3 hours before your flight time, explain your situation, and check-in.
This will be the case.
Explain the situation to the "Wizz air" counter
When you arrive at the airport, first go to the "Wizz air" counter.
The counter here is where you check in your luggage. You can also have your ticket issued.
Give your passport to them, tell flight number, etc., and show the counter staff the page on the "Wizz air" website with the notation "Your flight cannot be checked in from here.
I asked the staff here,
"I can check in for free, right? Is there a fee?"
I was just told, "I don't know".
It seems that this is not a problem that happens very often.
So, I asked the person at the other counter over there.
Procedure at the other counter
You will then be issued some kind of handwritten document. Take that document to the row counter on the other side of that counter. (next to the cafe).
Give the staff there the "Your flight cannot be checked in from here" page on the "Wizz air" website again, and the paper you got at the counter, and explain the situation as well.
If I had done this, they would have checked me in at the counter for free, which would normally cost a fee.
I asked them to fill out some paperwork that I brought with me, and when I went to the "Wizz air" counter again, I was completely checked in.
Less than 3 hours before your flight, it would probably be difficult
I cannot confirm this, so I am not certain, but if it was already less than 3 hours before your flight time when you explained your situation at the counter, you may be charged the normal fee.
When I encountered this issue this time, the first staff told me that if I check in at the counter for any reason, I would be charged a fee.
I think this is because of the original "you must complete online check-in at least 3 hours before your flight" rule.
When I explained the situation again to another staff member, explaining the situation from the beginning, he managed to do it free of charge, which is what happened.
End...
These are the things to keep in mind when booking "Wizz air".
If you don't have enough time before or after your flight and don't want to add extra hassle, the safest way is to make a reservation through the official "Wizz air" website. (It may cost a little more, but the difference will probably be about 10 USD.)
If you encounter similar problems, don't worry. If you go to the airport early and inform them of your conditions firmly, they will take care of it, so please enjoy your trip with peace of mind.