Eastern European low-cost airline Wizzair has reduced its online check-in window for passengers who don't purchase seat selection. It now opens two days before departure instead of the previous 30, reports Aviablogger.com.
This is intended to provide greater seat selection to passengers who purchased tickets only a few days before departure but still wish to pay for seat selection. Previously, they faced limited seat selection due to a significant number of seats already occupied by those who hadn't purchased a seat but had checked in online in advance.
The two-day check-in limitation applies only to outbound flights. For return flights, online check-in opens simultaneously with check-in for the first flight (if there are no more than 15 days between them). This will allow most passengers to check in for both flights at the same time, print both boarding passes at once, and eliminate the need to find a printer at their destination.
The new rules only apply to passengers who purchased tickets on or after August 16. Those who purchased tickets before August 15 (or purchased seat selection) can still check in up to one month before departure.
As a reminder, Wizzair passengers must bring a printed boarding pass with them. Airport check-in is also possible, but costs €30 (or €10 if pre-paid online). Airport check-in is currently free for flights departing from Moscow. Wizzair is also expected to launch a Budapest-St. Petersburg route soon, but airport check-in will be charged for flights departing from St. Petersburg.
Until now, Wizzair has primarily assigned passengers who haven't purchased seat selection to the middle of a three-seat block or to the aisle. Couples have typically been assigned seats together, but not window seats—in AC or DE seats. Groups of three passengers who haven't purchased seat selection haven't been assigned a full three-seat block; at least one passenger has been reassigned to a different block. Wizzair doesn't prevent passengers from transferring to available seats in the cabin.
Source: travel.ru