- January 7, 2023
- Wizz Air 7076
- Aqaba (AQJ) – Abu Dhabi (AUH)
- Departure: 0842(AQJ)
- Arrival: 205(AUH)
- Duration: 2:23
- Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
- Registration: A6-WZA
- Seat: 1C (Economy Class)
Our trip to Wadi Rum Nature Reserve and a day at Aqaba was exciting and it was time to head back, but this time with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. This was our second time flying with Wizz Air and the first from Emirati-based. We flew one from Athens to Budapest a few years back so I was interested to fly back again.
About Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
Before I review my flight, I will explain briefly about the airline.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is a subsidiary of Wizz Air, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE that was founded back in late 2019. The airline is a joint venture with state-owned Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company and Wizz Air Holdings.
The airline aimed to offer flights across the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent to grow its markets in each respective region. It is currently serving 28 destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub.
Wizz Air AQJ-AUH Check-In
Wizz Air flies twice weekly from Abu Dhabi to Aqaba and the airline departed early morning. We left our hotel around 7 AM in the morning and arrived just in time for the check-in process.
However, I would recommend you to arrive earlier as we discovered there were a lot of European passengers taking the flight and also you have to pass through security screening prior to entering the check-in zone.
Check-in was handled by Royal Jordanian ground staff and it did not take long for us to clear the security and immigration. After all, we had some time to spend at the only lounge that was accessible by the lounge pass. You can check out the lounge review here.
Wizz Air AQJ-AUH Boarding
Boarding started around 7:40 AM but we were in no rush because there was already a long line. There is no airbridge at Aqaba Airport so we had to walk out directly to board the aircraft.
Boarding was made from both forward and aft doors. This boarding process made traffic for those who were seated in the middle of the cabin had to pass by.
Wizz Air A321neo Economy Class Cabin
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently operates eight Airbus A321neo aircraft with an average age of 2.5 years. The aircraft is configured as all economy class with 239 seats.
The Airbus A321neo has a few different seat options that can be purchased at an additional cost. The flight we took to Abu Dhabi was operated by the first Wizz Air Abu Dhabi A321neo registered as A6-WZA. The cabin was similar to other low-cost carriers and feel very dense to me.
Wizz Air A321neo Economy Class Seats
The 239 economy class seats offered standard 18 inches (46cm) of width but the pitch varied. While the standard seats had as tight as 28 inches (71cm) of pitch the extra legroom and bulkhead seats had ample legroom.
Therefore, if you do not want to be cramped in the seat, I would recommend purchasing extra legroom seats for US$19 or purchasing a “Wizz GO” fare which includes these seats.
The seats, configured in a 3-3 layout start from row 1 all the way to row 40. The seat itself was okay for me but the seats do not recline. This is one of the biggest drawbacks as you’ll have to sit up straight for the whole duration of the flight.
The first-row seats and emergency exit row seats have tray tables located under the armrests.
Overhead storage bins were all full on our flight as the flight was 97% full. Finding a place was an issue for us as we did not expect the load to be very high.
As a low-cost carrier, the aircraft does not have any in-flight entertainment systems on the seat.
Wizz Air A321neo Economy Class Lavatories
The aircraft has three lavatories: one on the forward and the other two in the aft section. I find the lavatories quite clean compared to other LCCs so that is a huge plus.
Summary
We flew Wizz Air Abu Dhabi from Aqaba, Jordan to Abu Dhabi on its A321neo aircraft. This is our second time on Wizz Air and the first on its subsidiary. This three-hour journey was quite okay except for the fact that the seat cannot be reclined.
In terms of service, I did not have an opportunity to purchase snacks or drinks but the crew managed to work in a timely manner and I did not have any negative prospects on this flight. Sometimes it is great to try out different low-cost carriers to experience different things.
