Wizz Air refund: cancelled and long-delayed flights

Wizz Air refunds: WIZZ credits versus cash

When Wizz Air cancels, its e-mail and app promote a WIZZ credit worth more than the fare (often presented as 120 %), a free rebooking, and — less prominently — a refund to the original payment method. The credit is optional. Under Article 7(3) you can insist on money, paid within seven days; choose “refund” in the app or, if the option is missing, submit the refund request through Wizz Air’s claim form and state that you decline the credit.

Wizz Air sells one-way sectors. A cancellation refunds that sector and its add-ons (bags, seats, Priority). When the outbound is cancelled and the return no longer serves its purpose, ask for the return to be refunded as well under Article 8(1)(a); it is not done automatically. Bookings paid by a travel agent are refunded to the agent, who must pass the money on.

Wizz Air Hungary, Wizz Air Malta and Wizz Air UK all operate W6/W4/W9 flights; the refund right is the same for all three, and the rules follow the departure airport (EU261 from the EU, UK261 from the UK). A refund claim does not stop a compensation claim for the same cancellation: they are separate rights.

When Wizz Air owes a refund

Article 8 of Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) gives you a refund in three situations: Wizz Air cancelled the flight; Wizz Air delayed it by 5 hours or more and you chose not to travel; or you were denied boarding. The refund covers the full cost of the ticket for the parts of the journey not made — and for the parts already made, if the flight no longer serves any purpose in relation to your original travel plan — plus, when relevant, a return flight to your first point of departure at the earliest opportunity.

Refund or re-routing: your choice, not Wizz Air’s

When Wizz Air cancels, it must offer you the choice between the refund and re-routing to your final destination under comparable conditions, at the earliest opportunity or on a later date that suits you. Accepting a rebooking in the app counts as choosing re-routing; if you want the money, choose the refund option or say so in writing. While you wait for re-routing, Wizz Air owes meals and, if needed, a hotel.

Money, not vouchers

The refund must be paid within 7 days in cash, by bank transfer or to the card used, unless you sign for a voucher or travel credit (Article 7(3)). You can decline any voucher Wizz Air offers, however generous it looks, and you can reject one you accepted only if you were not told a cash refund was available.

Refund and compensation are different rights

The refund returns what you paid; the €250, €400 or €600 compensation pays for the disruption. A cancellation announced less than 14 days ahead gives you both, unless Wizz Air proves extraordinary circumstances — and even then the refund stands, because Article 8 has no extraordinary-circumstances exemption.

How to request a refund from Wizz Air

1. Use the refund option in the cancellation notice or through Wizz Air’s official channel (https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/travel-information/compensation-and-refunds), quoting the booking reference and the passengers.
2. State that you want the refund to the original payment method, not a voucher.
3. If nothing arrives within 7 days, write again with the date of the request; after a refusal or silence, escalate to AviationADR (UK flights).