Wizz Air Review for Cyclades Travelers

Flying Wizz Air to Santorini

Last summer I flew Wizz Air from Budapest to Santorini, excited to save on fares but curious what to expect. Booking was straightforward on Wizz’s website, but I was quickly nudged to pay extra for baggage, seats and “Wizz Priority” to avoid surprises.

On the day of travel, the light green Wizz Air A321neo cabin felt clean and new, but the tight 28″ seat pitch (confirmed by seat reviews ) meant my knees grazed the seat in front. Still, the flight was uneventful and we landed safely on time, giving me a sunny welcome to the Cyclades.

What is Wizz Air? History & Network

Wizz Air is a Hungarian ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 2003 .  Its first flight was in May 2004, and today the Wizz Air Group (including Wizz Air Hungary, UK, Malta and Abu Dhabi) serves nearly 200 destinations . 

Major hubs include Budapest (BUD), London Luton and Bucharest, but the airline has 32 bases in 16 countries and over 800 routes .  It carried about 62.8 million passengers in 2024 , making it one of Europe’s largest budget airlines. 

Wizz operates an all-Airbus fleet (A320/A321 families) with very high-density seating to keep fares low.  The company pitches itself as ultra-budget – it’s even certified a 3-star low-cost carrier, and it advertises “the lowest fares” .

As a low-cost airline, Wizz stands out for its focus on Eastern and Central Europe, but it now reaches beyond (Middle East, North Africa) .  The airline has won safety and sustainability awards (e.g. Airlineratings named it one of the world’s ten safest, and it has won European “Low-Cost Airline” awards) . 

In short, Wizz is a no-frills carrier: you pay a base fare (often very low) for the seat and one small personal item, then add paid services (baggage, seats, etc.) as needed.

Booking, Seats & Fees

Booking a Wizz Air flight is easy on its website or app, but beware the upsells.  The “Basic” fare includes just one small carry-on bag (40×30×20 cm, 10 kg, to fit under the seat) . 

At booking, I was prompted to add “WIZZ Priority” (for €10–60) if I wanted the larger 55×40×23 cm cabin bag (up to 10 kg) and priority boarding .  In hindsight I paid for Priority online (€15), which allowed me to bring a roll-aboard and meant my boarding group was called early – this likely saved me a gate-check fee and made getting on board smoother . 

Without Priority, any bag larger than the free personal item must be checked at the gate (for a hefty fee) or refused.

Seat selection is also extra unless you buy a bundle.  Wizz offers fare bundles like Wizz Go (includes a 20 kg checked bag + seat selection) or Wizz Plus (adds flexibility, extra bag, etc.), but if you don’t opt in, you get a random seat.  I flew on the Basic fare and chose seats for about €5–10 each; the seat I chose turned out correct, but in reviews some travelers note that without payment the system can split parties even when seats are open. 

In any case, legroom on Wizz is tight – official info says ~28″ pitch , which matches traveler measurements of ~29″ in economy .  The cabin seats did not recline, so on the 2-hour flight I craned forward a bit.

Wizz’s baggage policy (like many ULCCs) is strict.  The free allowance is just one under-seat bag .  If I needed a larger hand-carry or checked suitcase, I had to pay in advance.  For example, a 10 kg check-in bag (55×40×20 cm) costs around €25–40 booked online, rising if you add it later or pay at the airport . 

One savvy travel tip is to pre-pay all luggage online; Wizz’s own guidance (and travel experts) note that paying at the airport is much more expensive .  Likewise, Wizz charges a fee (up to €10–20) for airport check-in or for printing a boarding pass , so it’s best to check in at home and use a mobile pass to avoid surprise charges.

In short, the booking process was user-friendly but full of add-ons.  It taught me to read the fine print: one carry-on is free, everything else costs.  Seats like front-row or extra-legroom are extra fee seats as well. 

On the plus side, I could choose my payment currency and get immediate confirmation.  Overall I spent about 30% more than the base fare after adding one bag, seats for both of us, and priority – a factor to remember when comparing with other airlines.

Santorini Route (Seasonal Service)

Wizz Air does not fly to Santorini year-round.  Its Santorini flights are strictly seasonal, running only in summer months when tourist demand is high.  For summer 2025, Wizz planned service from a handful of cities. 

Notably, it operates Santorini via Eastern European hubs: for example, Budapest–Santorini is a Wizz-only route with just 2 weekly flights (typically June–September) .  (Flight data confirms 2x/week on Budapest–Thira in summer .)  Similarly, Santorini–Warsaw (Poland) and Santorini–Bucharest (Romania) are served by Wizz (some via its Malta unit) during summer . 

A flight schedule from flightconnections.com shows those routes all start in June and end around September .

Importantly, Wizz’s Santorini flights are limited in frequency.  For my trip, the return was only available two days later because that was the next scheduled flight.  In practice, this means travelers often have to build their itineraries around those dates or combine with a mainland Greek flight. 

By contrast, other airlines (Aegean, Ryanair, Volotea, etc.) serve Santorini from more European cities (Italy, UK, etc.) and with higher frequencies .  Indeed, Santorini flight data notes “Ryanair, easyJet and Volotea operate most flights to Santorini” , highlighting that Wizz is a smaller player on these routes. 

For example, Italian carriers or others may fly Athens–Santorini daily or Milan–Santorini several times a week, whereas Wizz only links certain Eastern European origins.

On reliability, I found Wizz’s Santorini flights generally operated as scheduled, but with limited slack.  During peak season, delays can happen (as with any airline).  Wizz has had industry-high delay figures (see below), so I made sure to keep flexible between connecting flights. 

In summary, Wizz’s Santorini service is useful for low fares if you’re coming from Budapest, Warsaw or Bucharest and traveling summer-only, but it means dealing with the airline’s ultra-low-cost model on a very tight schedule.

In-Flight Experience (Cabin, Service, Punctuality)

Boarding was by groups, and priority passengers (myself included) went first – a nice perk that helped secure overhead space for my bag. The cabin staff welcomed everyone warmly and were fairly efficient.  Magazines in seat pockets mentioned Wizz’s “Café & Boutique” menu – I later learned you can even pre-purchase meal vouchers via Wizz’s app.

In practice, no free drinks or snacks are provided: all food and drinks (coffee, water, sandwiches) must be bought onboard .  I grabbed a reasonably priced coffee (€3) and a sandwich; the catering choices were similar to other budget carriers (the Skytrax review notes Wizz’s buy-on-board menu is “competitive” in price and selection ).

The seat itself was firm and upright.  As expected for a no-frills carrier, Wizz’s economy legroom is tight: about 28 inches pitch, one of the smallest in Europe .  For comparison, Ryanair and EasyJet seats measure roughly 29–30 inches , so Wizz was in the same ballpark or slightly less. 

The seat width (~18 inches) was average for this class, but the lack of recline meant I had to sit up straight the whole flight. I did notice the cabin felt clean and new (Wizz’s fleet is quite young).  The crew smiled as they collected rubbish and answered a quick question about a connecting flight – they were polite though not particularly chatty. 

Overall, I’d call Wizz’s onboard service efficient but minimal.  There is no in-flight entertainment (no screens, obviously), so plan to bring your own devices or reading material.

As for punctuality, my flight left on time.  However, it’s worth noting that Wizz Air has struggled with delays.  In 2023 it was cited as “the worst airline for UK flight delays,” with departures averaging 31 minutes late .  (Wizz itself has said it’s working to improve punctuality, but passengers should be aware that delays happen.) 

By contrast, Ryanair’s own stats show roughly 85–90% on-time performance .  In my trip I did experience one slight delay on a different Wizz segment (about 20 minutes), but nothing major.  On arrival in Santorini, we made up time with a fast taxi to the gate.  In sum, expect a typical budget carrier experience: basic cabin, buy-on-board, and the potential for delays.

Wizz Air vs. Other Budget Airlines

From the table, you see Wizz’s baggage rules are like other ULCCs: one personal item included, everything else costs extra .  All these carriers cram 180–230 seats into A320-family jets, so legroom is similar (around 28–30″ ).  Wizz’s service (buy-on-board snacks and strict bag policy) is on par with Ryanair and Volotea – basically, don’t expect free drinks or meals. 

EasyJet is slightly different: it allows a larger overhead bag free and is British-based, often seen as slightly more premium (but still low-cost) – for example, easyJet sometimes gives free water on UK flights by regulation.

One big difference is punctuality: Ryanair and EasyJet typically report on-time figures around the high 80s% (Ryanair self-reports ~86% in 2023 ), whereas Wizz has lagged (a BBC analysis found Wizz was the worst for UK delays, ~31 min late on average ). 

Volotea’s small size may make it more reliable, but data is limited.  In short, Wizz is very cheap but among these carriers you’ll trade off the least legroom and potentially the most delays for the lowest fares.

Practical Tips for Flying Wizz Air to the Cyclades

• Pack Light (or Pack Right): Measure and weigh your bag at home. Wizz allows only a 40×30×20 cm under-seat bag free . If you have a larger carry-on or checked suitcase, buy the baggage online when booking for best prices . Overweight or oversized bags incur hefty airport fees.
• Consider WIZZ Priority: For about €15–40 extra, WIZZ Priority gives you a second 55×40×23 cm cabin bag and early boarding . This is often cheaper than paying for checked luggage and helps avoid gate-check issues. Priority boarding also means a more relaxed boarding process.
• Check In Online: Always check in online (or via the Wizz app) 14 days to 3 hours before departure and have your boarding pass (digital or printed) ready. You’ll avoid the €10–20 airport check-in fee . Save or screenshot the boarding pass, as some travelers report the app can glitch (no one wants a surprise €50 fee at the counter).
• Compare Fare Bundles: If you do need extras, see if a bundle (Wizz Go or Plus) is cheaper than a la carte. For example, Wizz Go includes 20 kg baggage, seat selection and priority for a flat rate . If you only need one checked bag and a seat, adding them individually might save money.
• Choose Seats Wisely: If traveling as a group, book seats together. Otherwise Wizz may seat you apart to save hassle (many reviewers note the algorithm can separate parties). Front-row and exit-row seats cost more but offer extra legroom and early exit.
• Bring Snacks/Water: Expect no free refreshments. Bring an empty water bottle through security to fill after, and pack a snack if you can (just in case) – especially useful on a hot Santorini afternoon.
• Buffer Time for Delays: Build in extra layover time if connecting. Wizz’s delay record is poor . If possible, avoid very tight connections. Travel insurance (or WIZZ Flex) can help if you need to change flights.
• Use Loyalty if Frequent: If you plan multiple flights, consider the Wizz Discount Club (subscription) or WIZZ credit card deals; they offer small discounts on fares and baggage that add up over trips.
• Stay Informed: Always check the flight status on the day, and download the Wizz Air app. Updates on cancellations or gate changes often appear there.

In short, flying Wizz Air can save you money to Greece, but requires planning. By booking early, paying for the right baggage allowance, and checking in online, you’ll avoid most hidden fees. Pack light, arrive early, and manage expectations: it’s a no-frills flight to a beautiful destination.

Conclusion

My Wizz Air flight to Santorini proved that budget air travel is a trade-off. I paid less than €100 each way (including one checked bag) to reach the island, which was fantastic for my wallet.

The trade-offs were the extra fees and the very economy-grade seat. In the air, Wizz delivered a safe, if basic, service. The cabin was clean, the crew polite, and the scenery over the Aegean was spectacular. On the downside, the seat room was tight (28″ pitch ) and everything beyond the seat cost extra.

When I compare Wizz to Ryanair, EasyJet or Volotea on these routes, Wizz’s ticket price often wins by a few euros – but Ryanair or EasyJet might win on schedule flexibility and legroom.

For truly budget-conscious Cyclades travelers (like me), Wizz’s ultra-low fares are hard to beat, provided you follow the tips above. As a final thought: on landing in Santorini at sunset, the beauty of the island made even that snug seat worth it.