The Fall of WowAir

Wow Air was really unfriendly, they even charged extra for a carry-on item. Can not say I was terribly sad to see them flop.

In any case, it looks like lowcosters can not make it work between North America and Europe. Wow went belly up in March, Primera (which flew between Boston and London or Paris for as little as $70) did so last October. In both cases, many passengers got stranded. Norwegian is still in business, but in big trouble. It is just too risky, in my view.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/28/business/wow-air-scli-intl/index.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45712063

https://thepointsguy.com/news/norwegian-posts-large-2018-losses-will-cut-fleet-and-routes-in-2019/

Spirit Airlines is the American answer to WowAir. They are notorious for charging extra for carry-ons and other hidden nickel and dime luggage and other fees that come with very low online base fares. Even before this recent incident, they had a terrible reputation as the King of Nickel and Dimer airline operations:

https://www.bet.com/news/national/2...-a-white-passenger-refused-to-sit-next-t.html

I personally loathe the lower budget airlines that nickel and dime to make ends meet, and will pay a modest fare for better service and respect. I regularly fly Southwest Airlines to Florida and I like their boarding system. My most recent trip to Tampa was around $275 round trip which was not bad, and I did not get nickel and dimed. They did have some bad PR when a woman was fatally sucked out the window of one of their flights, but in the event of crash or engine combustion I tend to sit towards the back of the plane where survival rates are higher. The woman who got sucked out was on a window seat adjacent to the wing.

I like Mexican airline Interjet which I use for my frequent trip to the riviera maya. You can have 275/300$ round trip tax included. No carry on fee, large seat and free booze on board. Can't beat that!

Airfare in Canada sucks, for a Christmas flight from Calgary to Montreal I can go to Mexico or the Dominican Republic all inclusive for the same price $1,300.00

Sol Tee Nutz said:

Airfare in Canada sucks, for a Christmas flight from Calgary to Montreal I can go to Mexico or the Dominican Republic all inclusive for the same price $1,300.00

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Try searching that flight on Cheapo Air

https://www.cheapoair.com/

^^^^^^ Not good for last minute, they have good prices but you need to take a 4.5 hr flight and turn it into a 12 + hr flight...
Too much lounge time, the cost would end up the same.

Missing WOW Air? No worries, 2 former WOW Air directors are restructuring it and planning a relaunch next year as WAB Air.

Gotta love the airline industry, dreamers with more money than sense.

https://www.icelandreview.com/news/wab-air-to-rise-from-the-ruins-of-wow-air/

donbusch said:

Missing WOW Air? No worries, 2 former WOW Air directors are restructuring it and planning a relaunch next year as WAB Air.

Gotta love the airline industry, dreamers with more money than sense.

https://www.icelandreview.com/news/wab-air-to-rise-from-the-ruins-of-wow-air/

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Usually it is a partner or a former exec. that takes over the whole operation by buying the debt and just takes over. Sometimes at a discount to the creditors.

Sol Tee Nutz said:

Airfare in Canada sucks, for a Christmas flight from Calgary to Montreal I can go to Mexico or the Dominican Republic all inclusive for the same price $1,300.00

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STN it's all about demand. There is not much demand between Calgary and Montreal.... I went to Miami for 300$ and Los Angeles for 400$ this Spring... Vancouver for 400$ last fall. Would probably be even cheaper if my city of departure was Toronto. It's all a about demand.

Cheers,

donbusch said:

2 former WOW Air directors are restructuring it and planning a relaunch next year as WAB Air.
Gotta love the airline industry, dreamers with more money than sense.

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Just don't buy tickets to far in advance. It is like spinning a roulette wheel. Will they be bankrupt by the time of your trip.

jalimon said:

STN it's all about demand. There is not much demand between Calgary and Montreal....

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Really? I have flown that route probably over 100 times, flights are usually full, they probably fly that route 30 times a day ( Westjet and AC each ).
If that is not much demand I do not know what is. I can get cheaper flights if I book 40 days in advance but I do not get advance notice, if during the year I could book 40 days in advance they would be half price. It is not lack of demand just gouging for last minute flights. I fly my kids to Calgary and it is cheap because I book 40 days ahead, Christmas is $1,300.00ish if you book in advance if not well over $2,000.00..... Nothing about demand.

^^^^^^^ Friend of mine tried them, told be to never book a flight with them. Did not ask him why, I trust his opinion.

Are they Canada’s answer to Spirit Airlines?

https://www.flyswoop.com/

Eye-poppingly low base fares, but what hidden luggage and other fees await? Just remember that these deals that seem like something for nothing types of deals sometimes turn out to be nothing for nothing deals. Meaning you get exactly what you pay for.

These airlines are just following in the footsteps of Ryanair which is categorized in the airline industry as a Low Cost Carrier (LCC). Of course, some do it better than others. There’s nothing wrong with the well-run LCCs like Ryanair, they have top notch safety records and great on-time performance (Ryanair 88% on time vs British Airways 78%). Where they differ is that many things that are free for Full Service Carriers are chargeable by the LCCs including food, luggage allowances, seat selection, etc and one has to book early to get the non-refundable super low fares. After all, there is no free lunch in this world.

IMHO, when LCC passengers complain about these restrictions, it’s a personal responsibility mindset. To put it bluntly, they’re whiners who didn’t read the LCC ticket terms & conditions properly and now want to deflect blame and have somebody pick up their mess. Well, life doesn’t work that way so these whiners end up posting their so-called mistreatment everywhere. These whiners should thank Ryanair for teaching them the value of reading a contract properly; at least now they’ll look twice before signing a contract to buy something far more expensive like a car or house.

If there were no LCCs around, airfares by Full Service Carriers would be a lot higher. LCCs allow millions of people to travel safely, cheaply and have their dream vacations. Just read the LCC terms & conditions thoroughly and make sure that you can fulfil them. Not a Ryanair employee or shareholder, simply an admirer.

https://corporate.ryanair.com/about-us/fact-and-figures/