Is Wizz Air's 'all you can fly' subscription too good to be true?

Wizz Air has introduced an exciting new subscription service called 'all you can fly,' which allows passengers to take unlimited flights for a yearly fee of €499, approximately £426. This offer has generated a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism among travelers. Many people are thrilled about the potential for affordable travel, especially to far-off destinations like the Maldives. Wizz Air claims to have been 'overwhelmed' by the positive response to the plan, which is set to launch in September. However, there are also voices of concern regarding the airline's service and the specific terms of the subscription. Some customers have shared their negative experiences, particularly regarding flight delays, which has led to questions about whether this subscription is truly a good deal. Wizz Air promotes the membership as a way for frequent flyers to save money, visit friends and family more often, and explore lesser-known destinations. The airline reported that the subscription sold out in most markets within just 24 hours. However, potential subscribers should be aware of certain limitations. For instance, flights can only be booked up to three days in advance, and there is an additional fee of around €10 for each flight booked. Furthermore, the subscription does not cover the cost of 'trolley bags' for overhead storage or checked luggage. Importantly, the offer is limited to just 10,000 subscribers and is contingent on seat availability. Wizz Air operates flights to 53 countries and carried 62 million passengers in the year ending March. This subscription model is similar to those offered by other airlines, such as Frontier Airlines in the United States and AirAsia in Malaysia. Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel, advises travelers to carefully consider the overall costs associated with the subscription. He points out that once booking fees, seat selection, and luggage costs are factored in, the total expenses can rise significantly. This means that travelers may need to take multiple last-minute flights to justify the initial subscription cost. Boland also highlights the irony of an airline that claims to be environmentally friendly promoting unlimited flights. Wizz Air has faced several challenges over the past year, and they may be hoping that this new subscription will help improve their reputation. In June, the airline was named the worst for flight delays in the UK for the third consecutive year. Additionally, in January, they had to pay £1. 2 million in compensation to customers due to regulatory intervention. Wizz Air asserts that they are working on improvements, having invested an additional £90 million in their operations and customer service last year. They also reported that only 1. 8% of their UK flights were delayed for more than three hours in the first half of this year, marking a 50% reduction compared to the previous year. Talie Delemere, a 34-year-old traveler, is enthusiastic about the new subscription and has already signed up. Living near Luton airport, she appreciates the flexibility to travel whenever she wants. Delemere typically travels between eight and twelve times a year and primarily uses hand luggage. She believes that Wizz Air's service is comparable to other low-cost carriers and finds their aircraft more comfortable than those of Ryanair. However, not everyone shares her optimism. James Glenton, a 36-year-old from York, remains skeptical. He is still waiting for compensation for a canceled Wizz Air flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to Wroclaw in Poland that occurred last July. After his flight was canceled, he was rebooked on a flight from London Luton the following day, resulting in the loss of two days of his holiday and additional expenses for parking, hotel accommodations, and travel to Luton. Glenton claims that Wizz Air has attributed the cancellation to air traffic control restrictions, but he believes the airport has indicated that the airline was responsible for the cancellation. He expresses frustration and doubts about receiving a refund, stating, 'I am angry, I would never fly with Wizz Air again. ' Mark Shatliff, a 39-year-old from Reading, also has reservations about the subscription. He experienced a six-hour delay on his Wizz Air flight from Istanbul to London last July, which forced him to pay an extra £120 for a taxi home. Shatliff believes that the subscription is not worth the potential hassle, as unexpected issues can lead to significantly higher costs. While Wizz Air has stated that they cannot comment on individual cases, they have offered to investigate the complaints raised by Glenton and Shatliff. Travel expert Simon Calder believes that the subscription could be beneficial for some travelers but not for everyone. He suggests that the offer may particularly appeal to Eastern Europeans living in the UK who frequently return home to visit family. Calder notes that Wizz Air already has other discount schemes available for travelers. He emphasizes the importance of doing the math to determine whether the subscription is a good fit for individual travel needs. Some critics have raised concerns that the subscription could promote unnecessary flying, which may have negative environmental impacts. However, Calder believes that the overall effect will be minimal. He also argues that the criticism of Wizz Air's performance is somewhat exaggerated. 'I fly on lots of airlines, and if I want to be on time, I generally go with Ryanair. In general, I find Wizz and EasyJet to be quite similar,' he states. While he acknowledges that Wizz Air's recovery from issues has not been great historically, he still considers them a 'perfectly reasonable choice' for the thousands of passengers who may opt for the 'all you can fly' subscription.