[cfc2000]

Wizzair service at Otopeni Airport, Flight W6 3015 to Doncaster.

On June 12th (several months ago) 2014 I booked a return flight from Doncaster to Bucharest, together with accompanying car hire and accommodation via the Wizzair website. There were three passengers, myself, my wife and her brother. I purchased the “premium service” to include large cabin bag, reserved seat and airport check-in. I did this at least partly to avoid the usual hassle of trying to get to a printer when on holiday. The system worked well on our outward journey, but failed on our return. We returned the car at 2pm and went to the check-in desk at about 3.40, about 20 minutes after the check-in desk opened. I was astonished to be told the flight was over-booked and that only one passenger could go. Eventually I found a more senior officer who issued two “conditional” reserved tickets. In due course my brother-in-law was allowed on, but my wife was not. Needless to say she was very upset by this. She was told that she could not be allowed on the plane even though there were spaces in the cabin, and indeed in the reserved section which we had paid for, because there was no room for luggage. So she had to be put up in a hotel and return via Luton. Needless to say, no-one available at Luton and only a premium rate number to ring.

My complaint about this is that we had purchased the “Premium” service. Nowhere on the website does it say you have to check-in online if you have purchased this service. I suggest that if this is the case, Wizzair should make it clear that even though you have paid for reserved seats, and airport check-in, that if the flight is over-booked, Wizzair reserve the right to cancel the journeys of any or all of the passengers. So best not to waste your money. Best to choose any airline, even Ryanair. My wife has had to spend £90 in onward fares to get back to Lincoln over a day later. I'm not optimistic we'll get the promised compensation, but if we do, I'll post again.