Find out at the end of this article how points and miles from rewards programs can save you in this kind of situation !
We had the opportunity to test this company, shortly after the launch of the Montreal – Rekjavik route. If the comfort was basic and the services reduced to the strict minimum, it was a company allowing to go to Europe via Iceland at a reasonable cost.
While WOW Air had reduced the size of its fleet by 20% and its seat capacity by 25% in the space of a few days in November 2018, and had proceeded to cancel all its long-haul flights as to India and numerous North American destinations, this was not enough to consider a takeover by other investors.
Both its competitor Icelandair and Indigo Partners have thrown in the towel in the face of the abysmal debts of the Icelandic ultra-low-cost airline.
Today, the ultra-low cost company WOWAir announces the end of its operations. All flights are cancelled.
WOW Air does not go out of its way for passengers:
WOW Air is not the first ultra-low cost airline to go bankrupt. The latest was Primera AIR which was supposed to fly from Paris to Montreal. Let’s look at your recourse:
In a previous bankruptcy, Charles Tanguay – spokesman for the Office de la protection du consommateur – told La Presse:
The Quebec Consumer Protection Act provides that, in the case of distance commerce, the customer is entitled to a chargeback if he or she has paid by credit card for goods or services not rendered
Several conditions must be met for this law to apply:
The European regulation on delays and cancellations of flights by European carriers OR from/to the European Union will not be of much use here: the company no longer exists… and therefore cannot reimburse you.
And chances are, you’ll be the last one standing in the bankruptcy settlement.
But if you want to try your luck, read this article to find out how!
What are the steps – laborious – to obtain reimbursement?
If your reservation was made on a site recognized by the compensation fund such as Expedia, you are automatically covered by the Compensation Fund for Travel Agents’ Clients.
You will have to contact the agency directly to obtain a refund.
Within 60 days, you must call your credit card issuer to explain the situation: you will not get the service (airline ticket) that you purchased on such and such a date on your credit card.
The issuer is obligated to issue a refund to your credit card. If the issuer explains to you that the bankruptcy of an airline is not provided for in the insurance contract, remind him that your purchase was made from Quebec and that the Quebec consumer protection law applies.
In the facebook group, several members report having been reimbursed by their credit card company (including Visa Desjardins), the bankruptcy being confirmed.
There are different solutions available to you in this case of emergency: Icelandair’s special fares, travel hacking techniques to find a low cost flight… and points & miles from rewards programs!
Icelandair has announced special fares from March 28 to April 11 for WOW Air passengers.
The price for the discounted fare tickets will be priced at USD 60 (excluding taxes and fees) to Europe, and to US/Canada, the price will be USD 100 (excluding taxes and fees).
You will need to fill out a form on the Icelandair website and contact the company by phone OR via social networks:
Now that you no longer have a plane ticket, discover in our travel hacking article on how to find a low-cost flight using different tools.
Otherwise, for those who have points and miles… now is the time to use them! Especially since at the last minute, there are usually “award seats” that become available!
For example on Aeroplan, those who were going to Europe tonight, there is this flight on United to Paris for 30,000 Aeroplan miles and $90:
Or this flight tomorrow evening via Zurich with Swiss:
Regular companies… very serious!
Now is the time to use your credit card travel points to limit the damage to your new ticket purchase! Example with points from the American Express Cobaltᵐᶜ Card:
You don’t know the points & miles for free travel (…or almost!)?
WOW Air, with its very aggressive fares – but unsustainable in the long run as demonstrated by its bankruptcy – had forced most transatlantic carriers to review their fare structures for flights between Europe and North America.
Here is an example of the implementation of a FIRST baggage fee on Air Transat:
As a result, most passengers have lost out on comfort with the arrival of WOW Air: all airlines (Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat…) have decided to charge for checked baggage and various other services – such as in-flight meals for some – just as WOW Air did.
Airlines are progressively removing services in order to “virtually” lower fares and appear first in search engines like Skyscanner.
So, the ticket price is certainly low and very enticing, but many fees are added afterwards for those who want a little more comfort like fees of:
On the other hand, “basic” prices for a transatlantic flight have never been so low: it is now not uncommon to see flights between Montreal and Paris for around CA$450-500 (without luggage, without meals).
WOW Air has turned this market upside down… but what will be left of it all without its presence?
As we stated during the Primera Air bankruptcy, in our opinion, the race for “all optional services” can only be detrimental to the consumer.
It’s a safe bet that transatlantic fares will rise again… but that the absence of service (baggage, meals…) will remain the rule. A lose-lose solution for all passengers: from the backpacker who was delighted to be able to travel cheaply with no baggage and no service… to the families who are now obliged to pay for their first checked bag.
The disappearance of WOW Air is a loss for the competition of airlines in the transatlantic flights. This disappearance follows the withdrawal of the company Norwegian which had started its flights to the Caribbean (and was considering transatlantic links to Canada), to finally throw in the towel, it too, in a catastrophic financial situation…
Other low-cost airlines have entered this market, such as Level, which has the advantage of being backed by the IAG group behind British Airways / Iberia. It remains to be seen whether this will last… or whether it will be replaced by the big players such as British Airways, Air France, Air Canada or Air Transat on transatlantic flights.
Savings are here:
