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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Anna Tims

Wizz Air piled pain on to my daughter’s tragic loss

A Wizz Air plane on the runway
A Wizz Air plane. It’s always worth booking tickets direct with an airline rather than through an agent. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

My daughter and her 19-year-old boyfriend booked a trip with Wizz Air. Sadly her boyfriend was killed in a car accident eight days before their departure. My daughter understandably cancelled the trip. She sent Wizz Air the death certificate, but it says it will only refund a third of the £322.93 cost. The whole process has been deeply distressing for my daughter, who had to obtain the death certificate from the family and explain to several people the reason why she needed to cancel the holiday. She’s only 19.
GN, London

I’m horrified to hear of your daughter’s loss. Wizz Air’s terms and conditions state that the full cost of a booking will be refunded if a passenger dies within a month of a flight. Yet your daughter was promised only £109.99, which did not even cover half the cost.

Wizz Air claims that only a refund for one passenger was requested. A spokesperson said: “We are incredibly sorry to hear of [the passenger’s] loss. We have now issued a full refund for both tickets.”

It seems your daughter booked through a third party agent, which may explain the miscommunication and which also means she may lose out. Wizz Air’s refund does not include nearly £40 of fees and additional charges paid to the agent. It’s always worth booking direct with an airline and it’s crucial to buy travel insurance.

Email your.problems@observer.co.uk. Include an address and phone number. Submission and publication are subject to our terms and conditions

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