"Zhoghovurd" daily writes:
"Zhoghovurd" daily received an alert that Wizz Air passengers faced public pressure and humiliating treatment at Budapest airport on January 9. even a woman was forbidden to put on the jacket, get on the plane, considering it as excess baggage, and demanding to pay for it. Several passengers told Zhoghovurd daily that they were stopped by airline/ground handling staff and given an ultimatum that your ticket is only for carrying one backpack, so you shouldn't have anything else in your hand, then demanded to either pay 77.99 euros or stay at the airport.
According to the passengers, they were also threatened that if they did not pay, they would be "left off the flight" in the airport corridor. And what is the problem? it turns out that people from Armenia flew unhindered on the same Wizz Air flight with one backpack and a personal hand bag and there was no problem, but when they came back the same backpack was forbidden to take the plane. "I left Armenia with my backpack, no one told me that it was too big, heavy, unbreakable or any other prerequisite. I had a ticket that I could only take a backpack with me. When I came back with the same backpack, the employee told me that you cannot take it on the plane, pay 77.99 euros.
When I asked why, he said it doesn't fit into the device. I said that it is the same backpack that I was not forbidden to take with me in Armenia, they did not listen. they said rude, violent, demanding. either you pay or you stay at the airport. I was forced to pay, but they didn't even give me a receipt so I could understand what I was paying for," said one of the passengers, complaining that Wizz Air employees extorted arbitrary amounts from most of the plane. He came back to Armenia, put the same backpack in the device, and it fit normally. A lady, A.P., told about the funny incident. Wizz Air employees forbade him to wear his jacket (under his clothes) and board the plane. "First they said that I cannot take back the handbag with which I came from Armenia, I have to pay 77.99 euros for it. I angrily refused. Tried to fit my carry-on bag into my designated bag, failed. The employees forbade the escort to help me. everyone stood watching me struggle to fit my things. As a result, my jacket stayed in my hand, it didn't fit, I tried to wear it under my coat, it was banned, demanding to pay 77.99 euros for that 1 jacket. They set a problem to take 78 euros from all Armenian passengers who did not take a ticket with a suitcase. And that process turned into a public humiliation in the presence of the staff and those around them.
How could they arbitrarily consider my clothes as "extra" and demand payment for it? threaten to stay in the hallway. The communication with that young staff was rude, oppressive and humiliating, which made me angry and said that I don't have money, I'm giving you my jacket and got on the plane without paying anything. I heard that one of them was telling the other to look at his cell phone, he said that he had no money. They set a problem to extort money from us," said the citizen. The lady also told us that she approached a Wizz Air employee at Zvartnots airport. "In the office on the 4th floor, a young girl came in chewing, I presented my complaint, she said write online, I can't help you.
I asked for the manager or someone in charge, he said no one was there, got angry that we interrupted his break and left, leaving me standing by the windows. This is how RA citizens are treated," said the lady. "Zhoghovurd" daily learned that many passengers have already submitted an official complaint to Wizz Air, demanding an internal investigation to clarify in writing what regulation prohibited carrying the same backpack or jacket on the return trip, on what basis the assistance of the attendant was prohibited, as well as an official apology and return of their stolen jacket and money.
"Zhoghovurd" daily demanded clarification from Civil Aviation regarding the created situation. How is it that the Government gives Wizz Air 20 thousand drams subsidy for each ticket at the expense of the proud RA taxpayers to provide cheap flights, but in Budapest they actually robbed Armenians, forcing them to pay the price of 1 piece of luggage even for 1 jacket. The Committee conveyed that the created situation is beyond the Committee's function. And it was not possible to contact Wizz Air, because they do not even have an office in Armenia.
We also appealed to the Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, who was cutting the ribbon for the official opening of Wizz Air. "The Ministry of Economy has no right to interfere with the price policy of the airline. Regarding the price policy or notifications, you should contact the airline," the ministry said. A similar answer was given by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. It turns out that cutting ribbons and giving subsidies is part of the powers of the ministers, but there is total inaction in the matter of protecting the rights of one's own citizens.
So, on the one hand, the Greek company receives a subsidy from RA to provide cheap air tickets, on the other hand, degrading the dignity of RA citizens, it makes them pay even for 1 backpack. This is an international disgrace, which the RA Government cannot leave without consequences. "Zhoghovurd" daily will be consistent."
Details in today's issue of "Zhoghovurd" daily.
