The Demise of Another Budget Airline

In the middle of the night, Wow air ceased operations subsequently stranding thousands of passengers around Europe and the United States.

It is certainly not the first airline to struggle in the wake of higher oil prices and a quickly transforming airline industry, but its dramatic exit, shuttering operations with no notice, is definitely one of the more gripping tales of demise.

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While it didn’t make the most graceful of exits—angry passengers are lighting up Twitter and many are desperately seeking “rescue fares” to return home or get to their desitnation—it is sad to see Wow go.

I personally flew Wow with my two children, taking advantage of its impossibly low prices ($199 roundtrip) on flights to Paris. I actually booked the flight thinking that, when I got to the checkout portion of the purchasing process, I would be disappointed to learn that I was to be saddled with all sorts of extra fees.

What I found was the exact opposite. Wow air was refreshingly open that they charged for everything and provided ample information on how to make your flight as cheap or as comfy as you wanted and what fees would be involved. I barely paid anything extra at all at the time of purchase but knew I would be paying for any extra luggage I brought and for food and water, were I to not bring my own.

As is sometimes the case with budget or low-fare services, staff can seem less than helpful or borderline disgruntled but that was not at all the case with Wow. The staff was abundantly helpful, friendly and attentive—even going out of their way to make sure my children and I were seated together.

Wow definitely had its quirkiness, for example, they charged for everything onboard but struggled to take credit cards, and flight delays seemed common. Still, there was a certain level of frustration I was willing to put up with when I was paying such a low fare to get halfway around the globe.

So, it’s a shame to see an airline like this go under—and in such an abrupt manner—but I hope it’s not the last time travelers will be able to have access to such affordable fares and friendly service. I know it made travel for me and my family more available, and I’m certain that it did for the many who flew Wow and the other budget airlines that left the market before it.