Wizz Air Cancelled Your Flight? Refund and Compensation Are Two Separate Payments
If Wizz Air cancels your flight, you can be owed a refund or new flight AND up to £520 compensation. Here's how the two differ and why you don't have to accept account credit.
When Wizz Air cancels a flight, passengers are usually pointed towards a quick fix: a refund, a rebooking, or credit in their Wizz account. What many people don't realise is that this may be only half of what they're owed. A refund and compensation are two different rights, and you can be entitled to both.
Right 1: refund or rerouting
If your Wizz Air flight is cancelled, for any reason, you must be offered a choice of:
- A full refund of the unused ticket
- Rerouting to your destination at the earliest opportunity
- Rerouting at a later date that suits you
This applies even if the cancellation was caused by bad weather or air traffic control.
Watch out for account credit
Wizz Air often offers refunds as credit to your Wizz account, sometimes with a bonus on top. That can be fine if you'll fly with them again, but you are entitled to a refund to your original payment method instead. Don't feel pressured into accepting credit if you'd rather have your money back.
Right 2: compensation
Separately, if you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, and it wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances, you can also claim fixed compensation per passenger:
- £220 / €250 for flights under 1,500km
- £350 / €400 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (for example, Luton to Bucharest or Sofia)
- £520 / €600 for flights over 3,500km
The amount can be reduced if Wizz Air offered you an alternative flight close to your original schedule. See our guide to cancellations with less than 14 days' notice for the timings.
Which causes don't count?
Wizz Air doesn't have to pay compensation for genuinely extraordinary events like severe weather, air traffic control strikes or security threats. But technical faults, crew shortages and knock-on effects from earlier delays on the same aircraft normally do qualify. Read our explainer on extraordinary circumstances.
Accepting a refund doesn't cancel your claim
Taking the refund or a new flight does not mean giving up compensation. The only thing to be careful about is signing anything that says a payment is in "full and final settlement" of all claims. If you're unsure, don't sign it.
Care while you wait
If you choose rerouting and have to wait at the airport, Wizz Air must provide meals and refreshments, and a hotel with transfers if you're stuck overnight. Keep receipts for anything you buy yourself. Our general Wizz Air compensation guide covers delays as well.
Start your claim
If Wizz Air cancelled your flight with less than 14 days' notice, check your flight with Klaimly. We charge a flat 5% fee, only if we win, with no VAT added and nothing to pay upfront. Wizz Air pays your compensation directly to you.
