Play CEO Birgir Jónsson (another former WOW exec) told the Globe that the initial model for WOW was successful, but when it expanded beyond short-haul flights from the East Coast, it ran into financial troubles. Play was born of a back-to-basics mentality for shorter routes.
A couple of weeks after Play launched a new daily route out of Logan, I booked a one-way flight to London. (Play goes to London Stansted Airport rather than Heathrow.) Here’s what it was like:
BOOKING: Play’s website is clean and (sometimes) easy to use. You can currently reach 21 destinations throughout Europe from Logan. After entering the destination, you’re immediately taken to a monthly fare calendar that shows prices by date. This is easier than the traditional method of searching for a specific date or date range that you’ll find on most airlines’ websites. I paid an extra $19 to choose a seat for my one-way flight to London, but a website glitch continually prevented me from actually picking a seat.
EXTRAS: There are no extras on Play. You’ll pay for everything. The only thing included is one personal item, which must fit under the seat in front of you. Ancillary charges vary by destination and time of year. I paid $19 to pick a seat and a steep $72 to check a bag for my flight. Most airlines allow a maximum weight of 50 pounds for checked bags, Play’s limit is 44 pounds, so be sure to weigh your suitcase before you go. A carry-on would have added $40 to that total. After extras and taxes, my tempting base fare of $218 to London came to $348. Once on board, you’ll pay for drinks and food.
CHECK-IN: There are no kiosks for self-check-in at the airport, so leave time to check in at the desk. I arrived early for my flight and didn’t encounter a line. The counter agent immediately apologized for the glitch that prevented me from…