The Airbus A321XLR could be a game changer for budget airlines. See how Wizz Air’s cheap 7-hour flight would compare with British Airways.
September 15, 20240
An empty row of seats on board the author’s Wizz Air flight.
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The seat pitch — the distance between the same spot on one seat and the one in front — is 28 inches on Wizz, compared to 30 inches on Ryanair.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be stuck in the back row where there are no windows.
A first-person view from a Wizz Air A321neo.
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If you do forget to bring a book or your phone runs out of battery, there is a magazine that also includes the menu.
You have to pay for drinks or meals, which still didn’t look like the tastiest.
The cabin on board a Wizz Air A321neo.
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On the London-to-Jeddah route, Wizz would compete with British Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The window view on approach to Dubai International Airport.
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It might’ve been nearly three times as long as the Wizz flight I took in April, but I found it more enjoyable given the comforts.
In economy, the BA flight came with a free meal …
I watched films and drank a free beer on my flight to Dubai.
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I found Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” helped while away the time better than reading a novel on board my Wizz flight.
But for most people, I imagine the price will make all the difference.
Wizz passengers deplaning at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
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Many passengers might never have considered destinations like Jeddah before — but now longer routes are available on budget airlines thanks to the A321XLR.
The spartan nature of an ultra-low-cost carrier would be made more apparent by the competition with a legacy airline’s widebody jets, but the price gap could be a game changer.
