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Wizz Air refunds: credit or cash

Wizz Air often steers refunds towards WIZZ credits, which arrive faster but can only be spent with Wizz. When Wizz cancels your flight or delays it by 5 hours or more, the law entitles you to your money back instead. This guide sets out Wizz's refund routes, its stated processing times and how to turn credits back into cash.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

Check compensation or start a claim with AirHelp straight away

In short: Wizz lists five refund situations: your own cancellation, cancellation by Wizz, delays over 5 hours or overnight, denied boarding and death of a family member. After a Wizz cancellation you can choose WIZZ credits (available within 48 hours, Wizz says) or a refund to your original payment method (claims processed within 30 days). Under UK261/EU261 a refund is due in money within 7 days; credit only if you agree. Already took credits? Wizz has a form to convert WIZZ credits to cash.

When Wizz Air gives refunds

Wizz Air's refund policy page lists the cases in which a refund can be started:

SituationWhat Wizz offersYour legal position
Wizz cancels the flightWIZZ credits or refund to original payment (in the WIZZ Account)Refund in money within 7 days, or re-routing (Art. 8)
Delay over 5 hours or overnightRefund can be requested in the WIZZ AccountRefund if you choose not to travel after 5 h (Art. 6)
Denied boardingRefund of the total fare or unused parts, to original payment or as creditsRefund or re-routing, plus compensation if involuntary (Art. 4)
You cancel (change of plans)Request in WIZZ Account (credits) or via Live Chat / call centre (original payment)No statutory refund right; fare rules apply
Death of an immediate family member up to 30 days before departureRefund via claim form; death certificate within 7 daysGoodwill policy, not a statutory right

Booked through a third-party website? Wizz says the agency may hold your money and its agents cannot help with online travel agency bookings – go to the agency first.

WIZZ credits or cash: what to choose

For a cancellation or major delay caused by Wizz, its Help Centre says the refund can be issued as WIZZ credits or to the original payment method. Points to weigh up:

  • Speed: Wizz says credit refunds after cancellations or delays are available within 48 hours; refunds requested through the claim form are processed within 30 days, and card or bank refunds may take up to 30 days to arrive.
  • Use: credits can only be spent with Wizz. A refund to your card leaves you free to rebook with any airline.
  • The law: under Article 8 of UK261/EU261 the refund is due within seven days, paid in money; travel vouchers are allowed only with your signed agreement (Article 7(3)). Wizz's own processing times can be longer than the legal deadline.

Credit does not settle compensation. If the cancellation came with less than 14 days' notice, the €250–€600 / £220–£520 claim is separate: Wizz Air cancelled flight compensation.

How to request a refund or convert credits

  1. Cancelled by Wizz: log in to the WIZZ Account you booked with and choose credits or a refund from the options shown – Wizz says the selection is available up to 3 hours before the original departure. You can also use the link in the cancellation email, the airport ticket desk, Live Chat or the call centre.
  2. Already accepted credits? Wizz's refund policy page links to a form to convert WIZZ credits to cash.
  3. Through the claim form: for refunds that cannot be done in the account, submit a claim in the refund category from your WIZZ Account; Wizz confirms the refund by email.
  4. Track it: refund and claim status appears in your WIZZ Account.

General refund rules for all airlines: flight refund rights.

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What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Fee only if successful (35%)
  • AirHelp: Trustpilot 4.5/5

Rather skip the questions? Start a claim with AirHelp straight away

Seats, bags and partner services

When Wizz cancels, the refund under Article 8 covers the full cost of the ticket for the parts not flown. Paid extras you can no longer use – a seat, a checked bag – are part of what you paid for the flight; ask for them to be included and object if they are left out.

Services bought from partners through Wizz (hotels, car hire, insurance) follow the partner's own cancellation and refund policy, according to Wizz – contact the provider directly. If your hotel or car was booked as a package with the flight, the Package Travel Regulations may give you more protection: see package holidays.

Refund late or refused?

  • Reply in your original claim thread with the date of the cancellation, the refund method you chose and the 7-day legal deadline (Article 8). Do not open a duplicate claim – Wizz merges them.
  • If you paid by card, ask your card provider about a chargeback; for UK credit card payments over £100, section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may also help.
  • For flights from the UK, refer the dispute to AviationADR; for flights from the EU, to the enforcement body of the departure country. See ADR schemes and national enforcement bodies.

A template to put it in writing: complaint letter template. Main Wizz page: Wizz Air delay compensation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Wizz Air refund take?

Wizz says WIZZ credits after a cancellation or delay are available within 48 hours. Refunds requested through the claim form are processed within 30 days, and card or bank refunds can take up to 30 days to arrive. The legal deadline for a cancelled flight is 7 days.

Can I convert WIZZ credits back into money?

Yes – Wizz's refund policy page links to a form to convert WIZZ credits to cash for cancellations or delays caused by Wizz.

Does Wizz Air refund if I cancel my own flight?

You can request it in your WIZZ Account (as credits) or via Live Chat or the call centre (to your original payment method), but what you get back depends on your fare and add-ons. There is no legal right to a full refund when you cancel.

My Wizz flight was delayed 5 hours. Can I get a refund?

Yes. Wizz lists delays of over 5 hours or overnight as a refund situation, and Article 8 gives you a refund of the ticket if you decide not to travel. If you do fly and arrive 3+ hours late, you may be owed compensation instead.

The Wizz Air name belongs to its owner; EU261 Flight Delay is an independent information site and is not affiliated with Wizz Air. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. Refund policy and eligibility – Wizz Air
  2. Refund processing time and status – Wizz Air
  3. Cancelled flight: what to do? – Wizz Air
  4. Passenger rights (cancelled flight) – Wizz Air
  5. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (UK version), Article 8 – legislation.gov.uk
  6. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (UK version), Article 7 – legislation.gov.uk

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.