Everything you need to know about Wizz Air’s new business class offering

Wizz Air’s new option will provide passengers with ‘the room they crave and the service they deserve’ - Akos Stiller/Bloomberg

The term “business class” often conjures images of glamorous executives sipping sparkling wine in a noticeably plusher seat than yours. This remains the reality on most long-haul flights, but let’s face it – travelling for work within Europe (or to other short-haul destinations) more often involves a low-cost airline, your laptop on the tray table and some awkwardly tucked elbows.

In January, Wizz Air – the Hungarian airline popular for its no-frills approach – launched its solution to increased demand for business travel across its network: Wizz Class. In a statement, Silvia Mosquera, the operator’s commercial officer, said: “We’ve listened to what our passengers want. They’re asking for a bit more space and speed, but they don’t want to pay legacy airline prices for business class. Wizz Class answers that demand – offering passengers the room they crave and the service they deserve, without compromising our simple, convenient model.”

Predictably, it resembles premium economy service more closely than business class, but at a time when comfortable low-cost air travel so often relies on “perks” to make a flight bearable, customers might just be tempted to upgrade on their next trip to Rome or Dubai.

Here, we take a look at what Wizz Class actually includes – and whether it’s worth the cost.

What is Wizz Class?

Class is a simple package aimed at making boarding speedier and the in-flight experience more comfortable. Included are a 10kg piece of carry-on luggage (in addition to your standard hand luggage allowance), priority boarding and a complimentary snack and non-alcoholic drink.

It does not include fast track through the airport and only applies to the first row of seats on the aircraft – but this offers the most generous legroom while also guaranteeing passengers a window or aisle seat with the middle seat blocked off (for added “privacy”). However, this means that there are only four Class tickets available on each Wizz flight.

The bundle was originally only available on selected flights to and from London, Bucharest, Rome, Budapest and Warsaw.

However, the service was expanded across Wizz’s entire network on February 9 after the airline announced that it had been well-received. Mosquera said: “Even with the limited initial rollout, demand exceeded our expectations.”

Wizz Air is popular for its affordable prices and no-frills approach to flying - Steve Parsons

How much does it cost?

Wizz has applied a dynamic pricing model to Class, with fares starting at €50 (£43) but potentially rising according to demand or distance.

It’s a relatively small sum to pay compared with, say, British Airways’ premium economy-style upgrade, which will set you back around three times more – but as a ticket from London Luton to Bucharest Otopeni only carries a £21 price tag, you could often be looking at paying more for the Class benefits than for the flight itself.

How do I book?

Wizz Class is an upgrade from an upgrade. That is to say, customers must first buy a Wizz Plus or Wizz Smart fare, then book Class as an add-on at checkout. It is not available for those booking a standard fare, nor can customers upgrade via their account after booking.

It is important to note that, with a limit of four Class seats per flight, flyers who pay for the Plus or Smart bundles will not automatically be offered the option if seats have sold out.

How does it differ from Wizz Plus and Wizz Smart?

Considering that all customers eyeing Wizz Class will already have either the Plus or Smart fare in their basket, the benefits of the add-on could be seen as minimal compared with the price hike from a basic fare.

Wizz Plus offers the same premium (extra-legroom) seats, two cabin bags and priority boarding, plus a 32kg checked-in luggage allowance and flight change flexibility, all included in the fee. Comparatively, Wizz Smart also offers priority boarding and an extra cabin bag, but seat selection applies to the first four rows and flyers are not guaranteed the maximum legroom.

This means that the only features exclusive to the Class package are the empty middle seat and the complimentary snack and refreshment.

Isn’t this the same as BA’s short-haul business class?

In short: no. BA’s Club World option does resemble Wizz Class in its blocking out of the middle seat (and reduced elbow-bashing), but also comes with benefits that are currently absent from the Wizz offering. Club World travellers can enjoy a semblance of the business class bells and whistles, with access to departure lounges in the airport and an alcoholic beverage served on board.

At just 28in, Wizz Air has the lowest seat pitch of any short-haul airline - Peter Erik Forsberg /Alamy

Is it worth the higher price?

According to a report by Which? last year, Wizz Air has the lowest seat pitch – the distance between your headrest and the one in front – of any short-haul airline. The mere 28in of horizontal space might be enough to push customers into upgrading for extra legroom, but ultimately, this can be gained through the Plus and Smart bundles anyway.

It may be that those flying on one of Wizz Air’s longer routes (to Jeddah or Dubai, for example) will feel a flight time of more than six hours and a more expensive basic fare justifies the relatively small extra outlay for the Class perks. But it seems unlikely that the offering transforms the in-flight experience on short-haul trips, even if passenger feedback has been generally positive.

There is something to be said for the fact that full-service carriers are becoming stingier with their true business class offerings, though. Travel writer Robert Jackman says: “I flew business class with KLM last month between Amsterdam and Stockholm and the meal service was a boxed salad with a handful of macaroons. If that’s what they’re competing with, then maybe Wizz stands a chance after all.”

This article was first published in January 2026 and has been revised and updated.

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