Which airlines are offering WOW Air rescue fares?

Icelandic low fares airline WOW Air has ceased trading, which has stranded people in the USA, Iceland and Europe. Many people took advantage of the cheap prices to fly across the Atlantic with a stopover in Iceland.

Various airlines have put together rescue fares, which are designed to help people get back to where they belong at a lower cost than normal. Let’s have a look at what is out there.

Icelandair Rescue Fares

Icelandair has been around for years and probably has the most to gain from WOW Air leaving the market. Anyone who has already embarked on their journey and have possession of a WOW Air ticket can avail of the following.

To or from Europe for US$60, to or from North America for US$100 and North America to Europe via Iceland (or vice versa) from US$160. This is before taxes and charges and is valid for people holding a ticket dated 28 March to 11 April 2019. Full details are here.

Aer Lingus Rescue Fares

For people scheduled to travel after 12 April, Aer Lingus is offering rescue fares as well. This will be aimed at people travelling from North America to Europe and vice versa.

People need to call 1890 800600 (from Ireland) / 00353 1 886 8822 (from Europe) / 0333 006 6920 (from UK) / 516 622 4222 (from US) and 800 474 7424 (from Canada). Tickets are priced from €169 each way, which includes taxes and charges.

easyJet from London

easyJet are offering flights from Keflavik to London Gatwick and London Luton for £110. This is valid for travel up to 14 April and after this regular fares will apply.

You need to call +44 (0) 330 365 50302 with your WOW Air booking reference before 7 April in order to get this price.

Norwegian is offering a discount

Another discount airline, Norwegian, is offering 25% off its fares from 29 March for travel through to 8 April. You will need proof of your WOW Air booking to avail of the discount.

They offer various transatlantic routes which may be applicable to get you home.

United Airlines and Star Alliance

People in the USA can get a discount with United Airlines and Star Alliance. You would need to call 800-864-8331 with your WOW Air booking reference and flight number.

You can purchase the tickets from now until 12 April and you can travel up to 30 April, which makes it one of the longer possible deals out there.

Virgin Atlantic

The people at Virgin Atlantic are also offering rescue fares for people in the UK, USA or Canada. Bookings can be made from 28 March to 6 April for travel to 30 April.

Please call 0344 8747747 in the UK or +1 800 862 8621 in the United States and you must have a WOW Air ticket with travel dates in March or April 2019 to access the fare.

Wizz Air

One of the furthest out you can fly seems to be on Wizz Air, which fly between London Luton and Reykjavik and also Warsaw and Reykjavik. These are valid for travel up to 10 May 2019.

You need to make your booking by 7 April and you can book via this special link here. It asks you to enter your WOW Air booking reference or PNR there.

XL Airways from the USA

For travel from 6 April to 30 April, XL Airways of France are offering affected passengers the chance of standby tickets in Paris to go to New York for €100. Standby means that if the aircraft has free seats, you get on board and if not, you don’t.

People wishing to travel from 1 May to 28 June will receive a 30% discount on tickets. Reservations are available in France on 0 892 692 123 and in the United States on +1 877 496 9889.

Overall Thoughts

It is never good to see an airline go out of business, but the first thing that needs to be done is to get everyone home as quickly as possible. These are a good selection of choices for affected passengers.

Have you been affected by the WOW Air bankruptcy? Did you ever fly with them? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image by Oliver Holzbauer, Icelandair image by Ian Gratton, easyJet image by Alan Wilson, United image by Eric Salard, Virgin Atlantic by Mark Harkin, Wizz Air by Curimedia, XL Airways by Oyoyoy all via Wikimedia Commons.
Aer Lingus image via Aer Lingus. Norwegian image via Norwegian.