Earlier today I wrote about how WOW Air ceased operations effective immediately. This seemed to be long overdue.
Personally I also think they went about it in a classless way — they haven’t even updated their social channels to direct passengers to the notice, and the notice doesn’t issue any sort of apology or thank people for their business, but basically just says “tough luck.”
If you are someone impacted by the WOW Air situation, Icelandair is stepping in to help passengers. Specifically, Icelandair is offering $60 one-way fares to/from Europe, and $100 one-way fares to/from North America, not including taxes and fees. If you are traveling between North America and Europe via Iceland, you’re looking at a $160 one-way fare.
This deal is available only to stranded passengers, and there are some conditions to be aware of:
- This is only valid for passengers with return tickets booked on WOW Air between March 28 and April 11, 2019
- Passengers are told to fill out a form with information about their WOW Air flight (including name, e-ticket, etc.), and then are told to call Icelandair at 800-223-5500 to book
- These special fares are valid to the following destinations:
- In Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Hamburg, Helsinki, London, Oslo, and Paris
- In the US & Canada: Boston, Edmonton, New York, Toronto, and Washington
Bottom line
This is a generous offer from Icelandair, given that WOW Air passengers are just about out of luck. With the number of ultra low cost transatlantic airlines decreasing, there are also fewer other reasonably priced last minute ticket options for getting across the Atlantic for those who are stranded.
However, even this won’t help everyone, since this is only valid for those who had return tickets booked, and not those who had one-way tickets.
I agree with Liam. They have no money and (few?) no staff. It's hard to expect them to be "classy" when they've all lost their jobs.
" they haven’t even updated their social channels to direct passengers to the notice, and the notice doesn’t issue any sort of apology or thank people for their business, but basically just says “tough luck.”
I wish no disrespect, but as someone who has been part of two airlines going under.
I am not sure who exactly you are hoping is around to post on the social media platforms. There is no staff around...
" they haven’t even updated their social channels to direct passengers to the notice, and the notice doesn’t issue any sort of apology or thank people for their business, but basically just says “tough luck.”
I wish no disrespect, but as someone who has been part of two airlines going under.
I am not sure who exactly you are hoping is around to post on the social media platforms. There is no staff around to manage said social media, whoever has the social media accounts to log into probably isn't the person with the money, (or at least had the money) so to say its classless is a little tasteless in my opinion, the airlines gone there is no airline, the staff get kicked out, FAST. so that the liquidator can lock the place down.
It's a sad day when an airline goes.
Liam
BWA/EMX Operations
Looks like they updated the pricing to clarify that North America - Europe (or vice versa) via KEF is $160.
@ Taylor -- Thanks! Updated the post to reflect that.
Ben, do you think that Norwegian could go out of business next, or could they be ok ?
Ben, do you think that Norwegian could possibly be the next airline to go out of business, or do you think that they could be ok ?
So, WOW and Norwegian go bust because their business model was totally unsustainable, and the only legacy they will have is that they initiated a downward spiral in airline service levels. Basic Economy fares on TATL, thank you.
Meanwhile Wow will still selling tickets on their website right up until they collapsed when they must have known this morning that those tickets would be worthless.