Another Investor Drops Wow Air Deal -- Here's What Passengers Should Know
Wow Air announced Thursday that a badly needed investment from Indigo Partners has been canceled, putting the airline ever closer to financial ruin. After a rapid expansion from 2015 to 2018, the ultra-low-cost carrier has been cutting routes and selling aircraft in order to keep its operations afloat. [Update, 3/28/2019: WOW Air has ceased operations. Find our ongoing coverage of WOW Air's collapse, and what affected passengers can do about it, here.]
Last fall, it started looking for investors to purchase or invest in the Icelandic airline in order to keep its operation running and find a path toward profitability. It entered negotiations with Icelandair in November, but the two airlines were not able to reach a deal. Then Indigo Partners, a private equity firm run by budget airline veteran Bill Franke and owner of Frontier Airlines, entered the picture and started negotiations to take a 49% stake in Wow.
Wow announced that those talks fell through yesterday and that it has now entered a new round of negotiations with Icelandair.
"The proposed investment of Indigo Partners LLC ("Indigo Partners") in WOW air has been cancelled by Indigo Partners," the airline said in a statement. "Therefore, all negotiations between WOW Air and Indigo Partners have been cancelled."
Wow and Icelandair aim to conclude negotiations by Monday, March 25, 2019. A Financial Times report indicates Icelandair is worried Wow's operation may be completely unsalvageable. The immediacy of the deal may indicate how desperate Wow is to find an investor, and how close the airline is to shutting down.
A lack of demand and a surge in oil prices have put Wow on the path toward financial ruin. Icelandair wanted to buy Wow for $18 million, a massive devaluation of the airline.
Wow continues to sell dirt-cheap flights between the US and Europe, so be aware that if you do book a ticket with the carrier, it's possible the airline could go belly up if this deal doesn't go through. Purchase a flight with a credit card that comes with trip cancellation insurance and consider other third party trip insurance.
If you've already purchased a Wow Air ticket and the carrier ceases operations, you can initiate a chargeback or dispute with the issuer, as TPG's Ethan Steinberg recently advised one of our readers. "I spoke to representatives from both Chase and American Express on the phone," Ethan wrote, "and while they couldn't confirm the outcome of any such dispute, they said that paying for a service and not receiving it would give you a very strong case and good odds of getting your money back."
You could also be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros (~$680) per person under EU 261, the European Union's bill of air passenger rights. The rule requires airlines flying to destinations within the EU to get you to your final destination or refund you the cost of your ticket.
For more information, see:
What You Can Do When Your Airline Goes Belly Up
Will My Credit Card Issuer Refund Me If My Airline Goes Bankrupt?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.