British Airways vs Wizz Air UK

Side-by-side comparison of British Airways and Wizz Air UK: cabin and checked baggage allowances, fees, online check-in deadlines, alliances, hubs and contacts.

British AirwaysWizz Air UK
Country United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Founded 19742017
Type Full-service airlineLow-cost carrier
Alliance oneworld-
Main hubs Heathrow Airport, Gatwick AirportLondon Luton Airport
Aircraft types 102
Cabin bag weight 23 kg (51 lb)10 kg (22 lb)
Cabin bag size 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in)40 × 30 × 20 cm (16 × 12 × 8 in)
Checked bag (Economy) 1 piece · 23 kg (51 lb)not included
First checked bag fee from 45 GBP (≈ 61 USD)-
Extra bag fee from 45 GBP (≈ 61 USD)-
Online check-in opens 24 h30 days
Online check-in closes 1 h3 h
Airport check-in fee freefree
Customer service phone +44 20 8738 50508 499 500 56 76

Key differences

  • British Airways allows a heavier cabin bag: 23 kg (51 lb) vs 10 kg (22 lb) at Wizz Air UK.
  • Wizz Air UK opens online check-in earlier (30 days before departure vs 24 h).
  • British Airways lets you check in online closer to departure (1 h vs 3 h).
  • Wizz Air UK is a low-cost carrier: expect a cheaper base fare with bags, seats and airport check-in sold separately, while British Airways bundles more into the ticket.
  • British Airways is a oneworld member, so miles and status benefits carry over to partner airlines.

Other comparisons

Allowances shown are for the basic Economy fare on most routes. Fees are the lowest published prices and change often - confirm on the official websites before booking.