While budget airlines don’t typically offer complimentary products or refreshments on board, there is a time when passengers could get some extra perks, a flight attendant revealed
There might be some perks you can get on your next flight(Image: Getty Images)
It’s not unusual for airlines to charge extra for refreshments on board, but there’s a way you can get extra perks for free.
While we get to lap up the benefits of meals, drinks, and snacks included on long-haul flights, these sadly don’t apply to many short-haul flights, especially on budget airlines. Despite their appealing, affordable flight tickets, we can end up paying extra on board, especially if we’re in need of a snack or drink.
However, that doesn’t mean budget airlines never offer complimentary services. Adam Hodge, 35, who has worked as Wizz Air cabin crew for eight years and is based at Luton Airport, exclusively revealed to the Mirror just how passengers can take advantage of the perks on board without paying extra.
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“If it’s someone’s birthday, if they’re travelling for a special occasion, or on their anniversary, I do like to go above and beyond where I can, “Adam, originally from Newcastle, explained.
“So I might make them a coffee or a tea just to say, ‘Happy wedding anniversary’, I try to make it special for them with what I can do.”
He sweetly added: “If someone purchases one of the lovely Proseccos that we have on board, I’ll tie a little handkerchief on the end, just to make it more special, for those little touches.”
While no one wants to be delayed on their flight, this is another time that airlines might offer a freebie to their passengers. Adam explained: “We do have situations where we have to do what’s called a ‘complimentary service on board’, that’s where we have a delay over a certain amount of hours. It depends on the actual destination and the journey time as to when we initiate a complimentary service.”
Explaining why this can occur, he added: “Sometimes in the summer when there’s really bad air traffic control delays, we can be faced with what’s called the ‘air traffic control slot’ where you have to wait.
“We could have been boarded 10 minutes early, but because we have a slot, we then might have to wait for 45 minutes or more to actually have that permission to get up due to the airspace. Sometimes, when passengers are onboard the aircraft for an X amount of time, we’ll offer a complimentary service, providing them with a snack and water on the house.”
But if it’s not a special occasion while flying, and without any unwanted delays, there’s plenty of chargeable refreshments onboard for passengers to enjoy. Adam even noted that Wizz Air has a new, nifty on-board ordering service available on flights, where passengers can order a drink or snack to their seat through an app, without waiting for the trolley service.
“After take off, we do app ordering first, followed by the trolley service,” he said. “Passengers scan the QR code and connect to our bluetooth where they can browse all of our products and promotions, and order to their seat. When the order arrives at their seat, they pay for it.
“It gives passengers more freedom and flexibility; they can order when they want. That service is available from after take-off to before landing, so they can order throughout the flight.”
For more information about Wizz Air flights or to book your next trip, visit their website.
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