In the airline business, bad ideas are a lot easier to find than good ones. But a recent development from Hungary's Wizz Air is, surprisingly, one I'd like to see others copy.
The low-fare line's Flexible Travel Partner service allows one person to book a flight for up to 10 passengers. Wizz Air requires only the buyer's name and data, leaving the other firm reservations "open" for adding names and details until three hours before departure. The fare for all travelers is locked in at the time of initial purchase. The service costs about $13 per Wizz Air passenger.
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Clearly, this deal won't affect everyone: U.S. and Canadian travelers aren't likely to fly with Wizz. But it's an interesting improvement that could make life much easier for at least a few travelers, and for many more if it catches on.
Bad ideas get copied quickly in the airline business. Let's hope that this good idea has some legs, as well.
More from SmarterTravel:
- EasyJet Partners with Airlines for Low-Cost Connections
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- When Should You Book Your Flight
Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.
Read the original story: Could Flexible Group Booking Take Off Thanks to This Airline? by Ed Perkins, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.
