OGH stops Wizz Air rip-off: 111 clauses tilted-passengers cheer!

OGH stops Wizz Air rip-off: 111 clauses tilted-passengers cheer!

Österreich - After a three and a half year legal dispute, the Supreme Court (OGH) decided that the Wizz Air must change some of its inadmissible terms and conditions. According to kosmo.at, 111 illegal clauses are particularly affected. Among other things, the airline has to delete the controversial check-in fee of 40 euros at the airport, which the customers considered excessive and unjustified.

In addition, it was found that the twelve -month validity of vouchers is illegal. In many cases, customers also received no reimbursement of tickets that they had booked through agents. Many were sent back and forth between the airline and the intermediaries without their inquiries being processed.

illegal practices and their consequences

The OGH decision classifies the procedure of Wizz Air as inadmissible, since the airline only accepted compensation applications via its website and blocked alternative contact routes. This practice was considered problematic because it made it difficult for passengers to access their rights. Most of the objects complained about the company's non -transparent terms and conditions.

The Chamber of Labor and Wizz Air have already set up a special website to facilitate passengers to assert their claims. Passengers can apply for refunds for check-in fees as well as for expired vouchers and dilapidated "Wizz credits". The new regulations state that vouchers must generally be valid for 30 years, which contradicts Wizz Air's previous regulation.

reimbursements and compensation

according to Arbeiterkammer.at reimbursements are also necessary for all airport-check-in-in fees. These check-in fees, which were originally 30 euros, increased up to 40 euros over the years.

The airline is obliged to re-exhibit expired Wizz vouchers, which then have a validity of five years from a new exhibition. Those affected can also take a refund for expired Wizz credits, optionally in the form of a payment or a new credit. This affects consumers with an habitual residence in Austria and the regulation is valid until at least December 31, 2027.

EU law aspects and passenger rights

This situation is part of a major problem regarding passenger rights in the EU. The consumerzentrale.de emphasizes that airlines are obliged to take care of the well-being of their passengers, especially in the event of flight failures or delays. The passenger rights regulation (VO (EG) No. 261/2004) stipulates that passengers can be entitled to compensation between 125 and 600 euros for cancellations or significant delays.

that Germany condemned Ryanair for similar practices in 2018 shows that the problem is not isolated. In Poland, Wizz Air was sentenced to a million dollar in 2023 because refunds from customer funds were not reimbursed in time after flight cancellations. These legal steps ensure that passengers can meet their claims on compensation and reimbursement more effectively.