WOW's Trying to Compete in the Transatlantic Business Market With New Premium Fare
Ultra-low-cost carrier WOW Air announced on Friday that it's launching a full-service ticket bundle, which it claims rivals similar business services with legacy carriers.
[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.]
WOW Premium, the new ticket bundle, offers travelers "a more inclusive travel experience," with fares remaining closer to what passengers have come to expect from the ultra-low-cost carrier. In all, the WOW Premium ticket bundle includes: the WOW Air BigSeat (a wider seat with a foot rest and at least 37 inches of legroom), priority boarding and fast track security, an in-flight meal and drinks, two checked bags, one carry-on item, one personal item and no change fee for reschedule and cancellation protection.
If this package sounds somewhat familiar, that's because it is. The WOW Premium bundle is "an enhanced version" of the WOW Biz product that was announced in 2017. Check out TPG Managing Editor Alberto Riva's review of the WOW Biz product here. With the Biz seat, you would get a personal item, carry-on bag, checked bag, cancellation protection, in-flight meal, XXL legroom and priority boarding. So, the Premium option differs in that it offers an additional checked bag, a BigSeat (37-45 inches of pitch and a foot rest) and fast track at security.
WOW believes that with this new Premium bundle, it can offer a premium product that's on par with legacy carriers' transatlantic business products but at a lower cost.
The carrier's A320s will feature four business class seats, and A321s will have eight. Meanwhile the A330s will feature 42 BigSeats. The carrier is in the process of retrofitting its existing fleet of Airbus A320, A321 and A330s with the new configuration, featuring the BigSeat seat. By the end of 2018, WOW's CEO expects to have all of its aircraft retrofitted with the new seat.
With the addition of WOW Premium to its fare offering, the carrier now offers four different types of tickets.
For the launch of its new Premium product WOW is offering discounts on tickets for travel in the cabin. WOW is advertising select one-way WOW Premium fares to Reykjavik (KEF) from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and New York (EWR and JFK) for as low as $399. Alternatively, you can fly from LAX, SFO, EWR or JFK to Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG) and London (STN and LGW) via KEF for as low as $599. However, the lowest fares we found were from New York (JFK and EWR) to KEF from $599 one-way:
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.