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Taken August 2004 from Luton - LTN to Warsaw - WAW

Outward journey: 28th August 2004 (1 h 50 min)

Cost :£13.99 + tax & fees

Delayed 1 hour due to late arrival from previous journey.

Return journey: 1st September 2004 (2h 00 min)

Cost: £16.99 + tax & fees

Delayed 45 min due to discrepancy between passenger records and missed flight slot.

Wizz Air closely follows easyJet model of chirpy-style, few frills, hassle-free flying. The airline has been flying since May 2004 and the Luton to Warsaw route has been running since 10th August. The freshness shows in the service and aircraft.

Both Airbus A320s were new and furnished with purple reclining leather seats fitted with seat pocket, table and separate can holder. Legroom was acceptable, but not generous. The interior was clean.

Cabin baggage allowance was 10 kg.

The cabin crew (4 each way - 2 male, 2 female) were Hungarian/Polish (speaking Polish & English) and sported a relaxed Star-Trek style purple uniform with horizontal vertical stripe. The service was friendly and sincere. The crew spent most of the flight time in the aisle dealing with passengers and the food trolley. It would be interesting to revisit Wizz in a few months to see if the service deteriorates to the mechanical style of other airlines.

Cabin temperature was comfortable throughout the flight, but the air became stuffy. It was possible to use the overhead air-vents, but these were not powerful.

As Wizz is no-fills, there is no in-flight entertainment facility or air phone, nor is there a magazine or on-board gift trolley. Food is provided at a cost. Wizz accepts GBP, Zloty, Euros and Florint which are all marked on menu card that was handed out during the flight. Although not mentioned on the menu, sandwiches were available on the Warsaw to Luton journey, but the majority of food is long life variety.

Example prices:

Tea, coffee, juice (200 ml) and carbonated drinks (330 ml) were GBP 1.45

Alcohol ranged GBP 1.80-2.50

Twix/Kit Kat GBP 0.75

Crisps were poor value – just a few mouthfuls for GBP 1.45, the same price a muffin.

Although both flights were delayed, the pilots and crew gave adequate apologies and explanations for the disruption, which was not the case at either Luton or Warsaw airports.

It's worth noting that Wizz flies to the basic Etiuda terminal at Warsaw, which has no shops or restaurants, just a couple of vending machines and inadequate seating. Etiuda is a couple of minutes easy walk from the main Warsaw terminal which does have shops and cafés. Once checked in at Etiuda you are ushered straight through security to the departure lounge carrying your hold and cabin luggage, so make use of the main Warsaw terminal before check-in if required.

Flying on Wizz was a smooth experience, marred only by the delays. I'd choose Wizz this over easyJet which starts the same route in October 2004 because of the less mechanical service, but would, for curiosity, consider the (untried) Sky Europe, which Wizz considers is its main rival, that flies from Stansted.