Wizz Air Compensation Guide: How to Claim for Delays and Cancellations

Wizz Air has built its reputation as one of Europe's cheapest airlines. Unfortunately, it's also built a reputation for being one of the hardest airlines to claim compensation from. If you've experienced a Wizz Air flight delay or cancellation, you're probably already frustrated — and Wizz Air's claims process is designed to make that frustration worse.

But here's what Wizz Air doesn't want you to know: EU law doesn't care how cheap your ticket was. A €20 Wizz Air fare carries exactly the same passenger rights as a €500 business class ticket. And under EU Regulation 261/2004, you could be owed up to €600 in compensation — regardless of what you paid for the flight.

Your Rights on Wizz Air Flights

Under EC 261/2004, your rights kick in when:

• Your Wizz Air flight arrives 3+ hours late at your destination
• Your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure
• You're denied boarding against your will
• The cause was within the airline's control (not genuine extraordinary circumstances)

Compensation Amounts

| Flight Distance | Amount | |----------------|--------| | Under 1,500 km | €250 | | 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | | Over 3,500 km | €600 |

Wizz Air operates primarily within Europe, so most claims will be €250 or €400. But per passenger, per flight — a couple flying from Budapest to London on a delayed flight could claim €800 between them.

Which Wizz Air Flights Are Covered?

• All flights departing from an EU/EEA airport — regardless of the passenger's nationality
• Flights arriving in the EU/EEA from outside — only if operated by an EU-based carrier (Wizz Air is Hungarian, so this applies)
• Wizz Air Abu Dhabi — flights from Abu Dhabi to the EU are covered; flights from the EU to Abu Dhabi are also covered since Wizz Air is an EU carrier

Why Wizz Air Is Notoriously Difficult

Let's be direct: Wizz Air has one of the worst reputations in the industry when it comes to handling compensation claims. Here's why.

Their Online Claims System Is Deliberately Frustrating

Wizz Air pushes all claims through their website chatbot and online forms. Finding the actual compensation claim form requires navigating through multiple help pages, chatbot conversations, and FAQ deflections. It feels like the process was designed by someone whose KPI was "make as many people give up as possible."

They Reject Almost Everything on First Attempt

Wizz Air's standard operating procedure appears to be: reject the claim, cite extraordinary circumstances, and see if the passenger goes away. Internal data from claims companies suggests Wizz Air has one of the highest initial rejection rates among European carriers.

Response Times Are Glacial

Waiting 8–12 weeks for a response from Wizz Air is normal. Some passengers report waiting months with no response at all. This is a deliberate strategy — the longer they wait, the more passengers forget or give up.

They Love the "Extraordinary Circumstances" Card

Wizz Air liberally applies the extraordinary circumstances defence to technical issues, crew problems, and operational disruptions that courts have repeatedly ruled are not extraordinary. Read our complete guide to extraordinary circumstances to understand when this defence is legitimate and when it's nonsense.

How to File a Wizz Air Compensation Claim

Option 1: Through Wizz Air Directly

1. Go to wizzair.com and navigate to Help → Complaints
2. Work through their chatbot (be persistent — it tries to deflect you to FAQ pages)
3. Eventually you'll reach a compensation claim form
4. Fill in your flight details, booking reference, and passenger information
5. Submit and note any reference number you receive

Pro tip: If the chatbot keeps redirecting you, try typing "I want to file an EC 261 compensation claim" or "connect me to a human agent."

Option 2: Email

You can email Wizz Air's customer service, though response times are even slower. Always include:

• Flight number and date
• Booking reference (confirmation code)
• All passenger names
• A clear statement that you're claiming compensation under EC 261/2004
• The specific amount you're claiming based on flight distance

Option 3: Use FlightOwed

Skip the headache entirely. FlightOwed handles the entire process — from filing to escalation to enforcement. We deal with Wizz Air daily and know exactly how to counter their tactics. You don't pay unless we win your claim.

Wizz Air's Favourite Excuses (And Why They're Wrong)

"The delay was caused by a technical issue — this is an extraordinary circumstance"

Wrong. The European Court of Justice ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia that technical problems are inherent to airline operations and do not constitute extraordinary circumstances. This applies to Wizz Air just as it applies to every other carrier.

"Operational reasons beyond our control"

This vague phrase means nothing legally. Demand specifics. What operational reasons? When did they arise? What measures did the airline take to mitigate them? If Wizz Air can't provide specific evidence, their defence fails.

"The delay was caused by the late arrival of the aircraft"

The knock-on delay excuse. If the aircraft was late due to a technical issue, crew problem, or other operational failure on a previous leg, that's still the airline's responsibility. They should have had contingency plans.

"Air traffic control restrictions"

This one can be legitimate — but only if actual ATC restrictions were in place. Check EUROCONTROL data or news reports for the date. If ATC was operating normally, Wizz Air is bluffing.

"The delay was under 3 hours"

Wizz Air may dispute the length of the delay. Remember: arrival time is measured from when at least one aircraft door opens for disembarkation, not when the plane lands. If you were stuck on the tarmac for 20 minutes after landing, that counts toward the delay.

What Wizz Air Owes You Beyond Compensation

Even if extraordinary circumstances apply (meaning no compensation), Wizz Air still must provide care and assistance:

During the Delay

• 2+ hours (flights under 1,500 km): Meals and refreshments, two phone calls/emails
• 3+ hours (flights 1,500–3,500 km): Same as above
• 4+ hours (flights over 3,500 km): Same as above
• 5+ hours: Option for a full refund and return flight
• Overnight: Hotel accommodation and transport

If Your Flight Is Cancelled

• Choice between a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight
• Care and assistance while you wait
• Compensation (€250–€600) unless genuinely extraordinary circumstances

Wizz Air is infamous for not proactively offering these. Don't wait for them to volunteer — demand it. If they refuse, pay for your own meals and hotel and claim the costs back with receipts.

Wizz Air Claim Timeline: What to Expect

| Stage | Expected Timeline | |-------|------------------| | File claim | Day 1 | | Automated acknowledgment | 1–7 days | | First substantive response | 4–12 weeks | | If rejected, follow up | Immediately | | Second response | Another 4–8 weeks | | Escalate to NEB/ADR | After 8 weeks of no resolution | | Resolution via enforcement | 3–6 months |

This is why many passengers choose to use a claims service — the process with Wizz Air can drag on for months if you handle it yourself.

Escalation Options When Wizz Air Refuses to Pay

National Enforcement Bodies

Since Wizz Air is based in Hungary, the primary NEB is the Hungarian Consumer Protection Authority. However, you can also complain to the NEB in the country of departure:

• Portugal: ANAC (flights departing from Portuguese airports)
• UK: CAA
• Germany: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
• Spain: AESA

European Small Claims Procedure

For claims up to €5,000, you can use the European Small Claims Procedure — a simplified cross-border court process designed for exactly these situations. It works across EU member states.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Check if an ADR body in the departure country covers Wizz Air disputes. These are free for passengers and can be effective.

Special Situations with Wizz Air

Wizz Air WIZZ GO and WIZZ PLUS Bundles

Having a premium bundle doesn't change your EC 261 rights, but WIZZ GO and WIZZ PLUS include flexible rebooking, which can help you recover from disruptions faster.

Wizz Air Discount Club Members

Your membership fee is separate from your flight rights. You can claim EC 261 compensation regardless of your membership status.

Multi-City Bookings

If you booked separate Wizz Air flights (not a connecting itinerary on a single booking), each flight is treated independently for compensation purposes. A delay on the first flight that causes you to miss the second isn't Wizz Air's problem unless it was a single booking.

Flights to/from the UK Post-Brexit

Wizz Air UK Limited (a separate entity) operates UK domestic and some UK-EU routes. Flights from UK airports are covered under UK261. Flights from EU airports are covered under EC 261.

How Long Can You Wait to Claim?

Don't assume your old Wizz Air flights are too old to claim:

• Hungary (Wizz Air's home): 1 year (relatively short — act fast)
• Portugal: 3 years
• UK: 6 years
• France: 5 years
• Spain: 5 years

Check the limitation period for the departure country of your flight. And if you're unsure, check your flight with FlightOwed — we'll tell you instantly if you still have time.

The Bottom Line

Wizz Air makes their money on cheap fares and operational efficiency. They also try to save money by making the compensation process as painful as possible. But the law is the law — and EC 261/2004 doesn't have a "budget airline exception."

If your Wizz Air flight was delayed by 3+ hours, cancelled, or you were denied boarding, you're likely owed €250–€600 per passenger. Don't let Wizz Air's stalling tactics rob you of money that's legally yours.

Had a disrupted Wizz Air flight? Check your compensation now — free, fast, and no obligation. Find out in seconds what you're owed.