Abusive billing, locked funds, and €2,000 penalty for services never rendered
I am writing this to warn international students about the financial practices of Flying Academy. The school is currently locking my remaining balance of 52,561 CZK (approximately €2,085) in their system. They refuse to release it unless I accept an abusive €2,000 cancellation fee, which would practically wipe out 96% of my leftover savings and leave me with just €85.
Back in August 2023, I formally complained to management because instructors were systematically overcharging my account for pre-flight and post-flight briefings. They would bill my balance for a full 30-minute session when the actual briefing lasted only 5 minutes. This unfair billing and lack of training structure caused me severe distress and flight anxiety, forcing me to stop flying in November 2023 for safety reasons.
When I requested a refund for my remaining money, the school's response was: "As per the contract terms, a €2,000 cancellation fee applies. Our responsibility involves aiding students in school enrollment and visa assistance, and any cancellation results in a loss of time and expenses..."
Here is the absolute truth: I never requested, required, or received any student visa support from them, as I legally did not need a visa to stay and train in Europe. Charging a student a massive €2,000 fee justified by "visa assistance" when no such service was ever needed or rendered is completely unjust.
They hid behind corporate delays until formal government consumer timelines expired to trap my money. In fact, I recently contacted them again in May 2026 to demand a fair resolution and request my balance back, but they have completely ignored my messages and refuse to reply. Do not trust them with your upfront savings. They only care about trapping your money, not your flight training.