Wizz Air Demands €200 Penalty and Still Refuses Boarding

For our March 22, 2026, 6:00 AM flight (Wizz Air Malta flight W43936) from Milan to Istanbul with a connection in Chișinău, we had purchased tickets well in advance for four people through Wizz Air (reservation number 1638319242962128). We arrived at the airport three hours before departure and got in line for check-in. The agent at the counter, without providing any reasonable explanation, told us that we had to pay a “penalty” of €50 per person, totaling €200. Even then, they stated that only two passengers would be guaranteed boarding, while the other two would have to wait at the gate and could only board if other passengers did not show up.

When we asked how the baggage of the passengers waiting at the gate would be handled, and what would happen if they were not allowed to board, we received an extremely dismissive and irresponsible response: “That’s not our problem.” As someone who has flown many times before, I have never encountered such a practice, and I consider this to be clearly unfair and unacceptable.

As a result, we refused to pay the €200 fee, decided not to fly with Wizz Air, and were told that our tickets would be forfeited entirely, with no refund, voucher, or option to change the date offered. To avoid further disruption, we were forced to purchase new tickets for four people with Turkish Airlines, totaling $3,344, which has already been charged to my credit card.

I request a clear explanation from Wizz Air regarding this unacceptable treatment, full compensation for the financial damages we incurred, and that the responsible parties be investigated. I also expect a formal response addressing the inconvenience and losses we experienced.