European budget carrier Wizz Air has added a disruption-assistance option to its direct-channel bookings via a partnership with Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS).
Travellers now can add HTS’s Disruption Assistance to flights booked on the Wizz Air’s website and app, which gives them additional flexibility when qualifying disruptions occur, which are usually delays of at least two hours or a cancellation.
When that happens, passengers who purchased the service can rebook to their final destination on any other airline at no additional cost, providing the new fare is within a certain fare cap. If no satisfactory rebooking options are available, the passenger can receive a full refund while retaining their ticket on the original flight.
“By introducing this tool, we are offering a uniquely proactive customer-centric solution that complements our existing services, giving passengers reassurance from as early as a two-hour delay, well before EU-mandated coverage [EU261] applies,” explained Wizz Air’s chief commercial officer Silvia Mosquera in a statement.
Wizz Air is the first European carrier to add HTS’s disruption rebooking service. Airlines including Frontier Airlines, Flair Airlines, Jazeera Airlines, Flyadeal and Azerbaijan Airlines, as well as Thai online travel agency Gother, already offer the product to passengers.
Dan Pombo, SVP of revenue at HTS, said the offering has a repeat purchase rate of 82 per cent.