Frustrating as it might be, there are all kinds of situations where you may find yourself downgraded on a flight. In this post, I’d like to talk a bit about what you’re entitled to in these situations, since it’s a question I get all the time. What can cause you to be downgraded on a flight? What are you entitled to if you are downgraded on a flight? It’s not necessarily so straightforward…
In this post:
Reasons you can be downgraded on a flight
Let’s start by covering the very basics — what constitutes a flight downgrade? For the purposes of this post, I’m talking specifically about situations where you’re involuntarily downgraded from one class of service to a lower class of service. This could be a downgrade from first class to business class, a downgrade from business class to premium economy or economy, or a downgrade from premium economy to economy.
Downgrades are rare in the scheme of things, though they do happen. You could be downgraded months before a flight, or once you’re onboard a flight. What could cause you to be downgraded?
- It could be that there’s an aircraft swap (either way in advance or close to departure), which means a particular cabin is no longer available on a flight, or more people are booked in that cabin than there are seats
- It could be that the airline oversold a cabin, so needs to downgrade people (this could also be due to last minute operational needs, like needing to move a crew around)
- It could be that a seat on a plane is broken, and as a result, a passenger can’t sit in it
- It could be that you booked a premium cabin ticket but are then rebooked in a lower cabin, either because your flight was canceled, you misconnected due to a delay, etc.
Let me emphasize that for the purposes of downgrades, we’re not talking about when your seat is swapped from one seat to another within the same cabin, since airlines don’t guarantee seating.
What you’re entitled to for a flight downgrade
In the event that you deal with a flight downgrade, what are you entitled to? Legally, this comes down to two factors:
- What the contract of carriage says, which is what you agree to when you book a ticket
- Any relevant government regulations regarding downgrade rules; these differ significantly around the globe
Broadly speaking, many government agencies don’t clearly dictate what airlines have to do in the event of a downgrade. Similarly, many airline contracts of carriage give airlines a lot of flexibility when it comes to downgrades, as contracts of carriage are typically pretty one-sided, protecting the airline a lot more than the consumer.
Since I often also talk about redeeming miles & points, let me emphasize that your rights should be the same whether you paid cash for a ticket or redeemed miles. As an award passenger, you should be no more likely to be downgraded than anyone else.
With that in mind, let me address a variety of considerations that could impact what you might be entitled to in the event of a downgrade.
You’re entitled to the fare difference when downgraded
You’re always entitled to the fare difference if you’re involuntarily downgraded from one cabin to another, as that’s just common sense — you’re not getting what you paid for, and airline contracts of carriage even support this.
Let’s say that you book a flight 10 months in advance in Air India first class, and then six months before departure, there’s an aircraft swap to a plane without a first class cabin. In these situations, you’re generally only entitled to a difference in fare between what you booked and what you paid for.
So whether you paid cash or miles, expect you’ll be refunded the difference between the first class fare and the business class fare, in the currency you paid. Keep in mind that airlines often won’t be very proactive about this, so you’ll probably have to ask.
If you’re on a partner award ticket, you’ll usually want to reach out to the program through which you booked the ticket to request the difference in miles, since they can most easily process that.
Lastly, some airlines will be willing to work with you to accommodate you on another flight or routing that still features first class, but generally speaking, that’s a courtesy rather than a legal requirement. That’s also significantly more complicated when the airline through which you booked and the airline operating the flight aren’t the same.
Europe has the best consumer protections
Many countries in Europe have excellent consumer protections in the form of EC261, which covers you in the situation of flight delays, downgrades, and more.
Under this policy, if you’re downgraded, you’re entitled to:
- Reimbursement of 30% of the ticket price for flights of up to 1,500km
- Reimbursement of 50% of the ticket price for flights of 1,500 to 3,500km
- Reimbursement of 75% of the ticket price for flights of over 3,500km
As you can see, this can quickly become pretty lucrative, especially on long haul flights. This applies to all airlines when departing from an eligible part of Europe, while it only applies on European airlines when departing for Europe.
Just as a point of comparison, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) doesn’t dictate any downgrade compensation, beyond just the fare difference.
Downgrades due to operational issues are complicated
What happens if you have operational issues on the day of travel, and end up not traveling in the class of service you were confirmed in? Just to give a couple of examples:
- Say you have a first class ticket from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Tampa, but you misconnect in Charlotte, and are rebooked in economy on that second segment
- Say you’re ticketed in first class on a severely delayed flight, and you decide to get rebooked on another flight that will get you to your destination early, but there’s only economy available
It’s important to recognize the difference between a voluntary downgrade and an involuntary downgrade. If you miss your flight due to a delayed inbound flight, or because of operational disruptions, and if you choose to take the next available flight in economy, that’s generally considered voluntary.
Why? Well, you’re choosing to take that flight, rather than waiting for the next available flight in the same class of service (which could be in hours, or days, or weeks, or…). Airlines make no promises about how soon they’ll get you to your destination, so airlines would argue that’s not an involuntary downgrade, since they could probably get you to your destination in your initial class of service at some point.
However, this is very much a grey area, and it can be a very thin line between a voluntary downgrade an an involuntary downgrade. For example, if you misconnect and the airline proactively rebooks you in a lower class of service on another flight without you asking, is that a voluntary or involuntary downgrade?
Regardless, I find that most airlines are willing to provide a partial refund in the case of downgrades, regardless of what the circumstance is. So the refund would be pro-rated based on the percent of the distance you are traveling in a downgraded cabin.
This would generally apply if you paid cash, booked an award ticket, or redeemed miles for an upgrade. Meanwhile if you received a complimentary upgrade on account of your elite status it wouldn’t apply, since there’s nothing to refund, as there was no payment method.
Goodwill compensation is up to the airline
Lastly, I think it’s worth mentioning that beyond what you’re legally entitled to, many airlines may extend a gesture of goodwill, even if they’re not legally required to.
If you are frustrated about a downgrade situation and feel you haven’t been made whole, you can always contact the airline and see if they’re willing to offer you bonus miles, a voucher, etc. There’s no guarantee they’ll do it, but in many situations they will.
If you’re on a partner award ticket, I would only expect the airline on which you’re traveling to offer you anything, rather than the airline through which you booked (since they have no control over the downgrade).
Bottom line
Flight downgrades happen sometimes, and what you’re entitled to depends on the airline contract of carriage and the relevant government regulations. Most airlines only promise a refund of the fare difference for involuntary downgrades, while some government bodies may promise more. For example, in much of Europe, you’re entitled to a 75% refund if you’re downgraded on a long haul flight.
Hopefully the above is a useful rundown of what you can expect in these situations.
If you’ve been downgraded on a flight, what was your experience like?
It is amazing how little Americans demand of their government. Why not demand that the government adopt better consumer protections?
Got downgraded by cx but refused and asked to be put in next flight. They gave me a one leg one time systemwide upgrade… and a night in the regal hkia.
Trying to score cx first…
Emirates has an extremely generous policy that if downgraded at/after check-in due to oversold cabin or broken seat, they will give a voucher for a complete new return flight in the original class. As an example, I was downgraded from F to J on the first sector of a return from Bangkok and received a voucher for a free return F ticket on the same route. Very generous and easy to book. Free ticket also more flexible than the original !
It's easier to cater for these generous re-book seats when you have 116 x A380s in service :)
Interestingly, I’ve noticed during a couple of IROPS on AA in the past few years they’ve been good about protecting the higher class of service even if I’ve been upgraded as an elite on only one segment of a multi-segment trip. Multiple times now in rebooking I’ve been bumped on the second segment, or been able to book both modified segments in domestic first. They don’t have any obligation so it must be a quirk of the system.
This is the first blog post anywhere that gets it right. However a few nuances and clarifications.
While it's true that what you get is usually limited to what you agree to under the Contract of Carriage that doesn't mean you get what the airlines tell you what you are entitled to. For example they might claim the difference in fare is based on the full fare for the class you were downgraded to priced...
This is the first blog post anywhere that gets it right. However a few nuances and clarifications.
While it's true that what you get is usually limited to what you agree to under the Contract of Carriage that doesn't mean you get what the airlines tell you what you are entitled to. For example they might claim the difference in fare is based on the full fare for the class you were downgraded to priced on the day of travel. Unless that's explicit in the CoCs it's an interpretation that would be subject to challenge.
Also the CoC is an agreement and courts can hold any agreement to be held to be unenforceable, particularly those imposed by one party on another, as is the case with CoCs. But they give them great deference so unless its clearly abusive, in conflict with the law or you can make some other compelling argument why you should be bound by what you agreed to its likely to be an uphill battle.
However note that any consideration mandated by statute is a minimum the airline must pay or be in violation of the law. Just because DOT says you are entitled to the difference in fare doesn't mean that an airline couldn't be held liable for more. But you'll have to make your case to a judge unless the airline agrees to pay you voluntarily.
The takeaway should be that it's not ultimately up the airline to decide what you get but if you think you're entitled to more than they offer you you'll have to go to court.
Two years ago my husband booked a 1st class ticket to Paris on American. He was recovering from extensive surgery and couldn’t sit up overnight. I booked a premium economy bulkhead seat When we got to the gate he was told that the flight had been oversold and he would have to sit in premium economy or take another flight. As compensation they offered 400 miles! We took the flight but I demanded the fare...
Two years ago my husband booked a 1st class ticket to Paris on American. He was recovering from extensive surgery and couldn’t sit up overnight. I booked a premium economy bulkhead seat When we got to the gate he was told that the flight had been oversold and he would have to sit in premium economy or take another flight. As compensation they offered 400 miles! We took the flight but I demanded the fare difference. The gate agent said I had to take it up with the airline which I did when we got home. First American offered half the fare difference but-after some back and forth-they refunded the entire amount. How did he do on the flight? The lady who took his seat found out about his health issues and swapped her 1st class for his premium. I sent her a check when I received the refund. There are kind people in this world.
A delayed arrival into BOS on DL got me a downgrade to the next AMS flight (J to Y). I initiated the claim right away, though it couldn't be completed until my return. At that point, DL quickly refunded an amount I found quite fair.
Looked it up $916
@Ben ---> UP, DOWN, AND SIDEWAYS...Just last week, my wife and I *started* with the seats I chose when booking my flight -- the Exit Row. Then, I checked in through the airlines app 24 hours ahead of departure. (It's an old habit left over from the days that used to matter w/Southwest.) The morning before our flight -- again, through the airline's app -- my wife and I have both been upgraded to First...
@Ben ---> UP, DOWN, AND SIDEWAYS...Just last week, my wife and I *started* with the seats I chose when booking my flight -- the Exit Row. Then, I checked in through the airlines app 24 hours ahead of departure. (It's an old habit left over from the days that used to matter w/Southwest.) The morning before our flight -- again, through the airline's app -- my wife and I have both been upgraded to First (domestic). The app delivers new boarding passes in seats 4A and 4C, and that's a great feeling...having status *does* pay off. We check our bags, we get new paper boarding passes which also indicate we're in 4A and 4C. We go to the gate. Time to board. Our boarding passes are checked and we take our seats in First. No problem...except there is.
Everyone's onboard. Then two more people board, along with the gate agent. The FA in First asks us if we're John and Jane Doe. The couple in 3D and 3F say, "Hey, no -- that's us." She asks for our names and tells us she doesn't even have us on the flight. I calmly show her our boarding passes and that we are in the correct seats. The woman in 4D starts yelling the two new people are her children (both in their late 20s, I'd guess), and that we're in their seats. The gate agent says we need to move back to our original (Exit Row) seats.
Of course the people who self-upgraded into the Exit Row had to be moved, too, but...
/\/\/\/\/\
I called the airline's Customer Service line a few days later to basically find out what happened. The CS Agent thought it was very strange and asked me to hold while she looked into it. After about five minutes or so, she came back on to explain that the two people (the lady's adult children) had checked into the flight very late. The airline thought they weren't coming and so upgraded us, but they showed up at the last minute and since they did in fact pay for First, we got put back in the Exit Row.
What the airline giveth, the airline taketh away...well, that and a healthy flight credit for a future flight for each of us.
It would be real nice if we had a US version of EU261. A downgrade on a short to medium haul domestic is no big deal but on a long haul that can be the difference between a great flight arriving refreshed and hell in the sky.
Take your choice. U. S. Will establish comparable EU261 when either pigs fly, or hell freezes over. More likely a new airline friendly Prez will reduce existing bennies.
One day b4 my LH first award flight from FRA-IAH, a snooty airline rep called to tell me my first class was cancelled and they could offer biz plus 1035 euro. When I said I'd wiat for the next day, or fly into ORD, LAX or SFO as an alternate, the rep said that's not permitted and told me to call the "travel agent who booked me."It was a lifemiles ticket. The dude kept repeating...
One day b4 my LH first award flight from FRA-IAH, a snooty airline rep called to tell me my first class was cancelled and they could offer biz plus 1035 euro. When I said I'd wiat for the next day, or fly into ORD, LAX or SFO as an alternate, the rep said that's not permitted and told me to call the "travel agent who booked me."It was a lifemiles ticket. The dude kept repeating this then hung up on me.
Was I entitled to 75% of the first class fare had I paid in cash?
Anyone ?
Luckily, I had read Lucky' post about LH first class line and called it. Booked into ORD via LH first with connection in economy to IAH on United. I was told I MUST arrive at an airport within 250 mi of the originally booked airport, so flying to LAX or SFO (which I was going to do after IAH stop) wasn't permitted.
LH says I'm not entitled to any comp for the downgraded part as did one of the attorney sites that collects for passengers.
As an aside, LH had rebooked me to IAH using BA first through LHR while all this was going on. In the end , that flight was cancelled!
“ let me emphasize that your rights should be the same whether you paid cash for a ticket or redeemed miles. As an award passenger, you should be no more likely to be downgraded than anyone else”
I was booked in business on Qatar in March (SFO-DOH-CPT)of 2024. I was downgraded at boarding time and told that I was being bumped to economy because I was “on miles”. After a few minutes of the gate...
“ let me emphasize that your rights should be the same whether you paid cash for a ticket or redeemed miles. As an award passenger, you should be no more likely to be downgraded than anyone else”
I was booked in business on Qatar in March (SFO-DOH-CPT)of 2024. I was downgraded at boarding time and told that I was being bumped to economy because I was “on miles”. After a few minutes of the gate agent staring at my shocked expression, I was able to have them re-book me on a Turkish flight that same evening. So it all worked out (but getting my checked bag was a nightmare-kudos to Turkish).
The operative words are "should be."
In reality airlines decide who gets downgraded based on a number of factors. As a result passengers without status traveling on tickets paid for with points are the most likely to be downgraded.
In large part this is because airlines have figured out that if they refund the difference between what the passenger paid in points for their ticket and what they claim is the cost in points of...
The operative words are "should be."
In reality airlines decide who gets downgraded based on a number of factors. As a result passengers without status traveling on tickets paid for with points are the most likely to be downgraded.
In large part this is because airlines have figured out that if they refund the difference between what the passenger paid in points for their ticket and what they claim is the cost in points of the lower class of service virtually no one will take them to court. This is true even when due to dynamic pricing the lower class ticket might be essentially the same or even require more miles resulting in little or no refund.
This is one of the dirty secrets of travel using awards. Unless you are one of the higher elite levels with an airline you are extremely likely to be the first one to be downgraded. Luckily few if any airlines overbook their premium classes so the main reasons for a downgrade are inoperable seat or change of aircraft to one with less seats in the cabin neither of which thankfully are that common.
But when traveling on an award it's best to assume you're the one who is going to get bumped down and have a plan ready if you get picked. This should include having read the Contract of Carriage to know what it says regarding involuntary downgrades. Some require the airline to put you on any other flight the airline operates, including other routings, or days so long as there is an unsold seat. Check for alternate flights, be prepared to go another way or day and have a phone number handy that will get you in touch with someone at the airline who is empowered to make the necessary changes and refuse all offers to give you your points back in lieu of traveling.
WOW! Great explanation! Thank you. And yes, this totally makes sense.
One thing to note, on the day I was flying I did see another Qatar aircraft parked across with the way (obviously a mechanical from a previous day(s). I wonder if they bumped me to accommodate a passenger from that flight? I know the rules domestically (on this situation), but have no clue on an international flight.
Interestingly enough, I'm currently in this situation. I was booked in BA first class from JFK to LHR. On the same flight I also had other family members on a different booking flying in economy.
The flight was cancelled. I was rebooked on a new flight in the evening same day (the original was the morning flight). But the other family members were booked on a later flight (as it was separate bookings).
BA staff...
Interestingly enough, I'm currently in this situation. I was booked in BA first class from JFK to LHR. On the same flight I also had other family members on a different booking flying in economy.
The flight was cancelled. I was rebooked on a new flight in the evening same day (the original was the morning flight). But the other family members were booked on a later flight (as it was separate bookings).
BA staff in JFK were really helpful, and they offered me alternative to fly with Virgin upper class all of us together. The Virgin flight was departing the same time as my new BA flight, so I asked them if the other family members can fly with Virgin and me staying in BA first. But they told me that this is a gesture from them to send the other members on Virgin and they are only willing to do it if we fly together.
I asked them if I'll get a refund for the downgrade, they told yes. This is considered a downgrade and I will receive a refund.
As of now, I got the compensation £520, I got reimbursement of costs (parking, food etc.) but I'm still waiting to hear from them regarding the downgrade. They keep on telling me that the team needs to check how much the Virgin flight was, but I think I am entitled to 75% of the price I paid (80,000 points + £880).
The only offer I would accept other than 75% is a new flight. They have to understand, this was a once in lifetime experience of flying first class. I can't afford to do it again except with the 75% refund.
You wrote "I asked them if the other family members can fly with Virgin and me staying in BA first. But they told me that this is a gesture from them to send the other members on Virgin and they are only willing to do it if we fly together."
BA's Contract of Carriage almost certainly explicitly states what their obligations are when a flight cancels. Some airlines obligation themselves to put you on the...
You wrote "I asked them if the other family members can fly with Virgin and me staying in BA first. But they told me that this is a gesture from them to send the other members on Virgin and they are only willing to do it if we fly together."
BA's Contract of Carriage almost certainly explicitly states what their obligations are when a flight cancels. Some airlines obligation themselves to put you on the next available flight, even another carrier, in the same class of service. Others limit it to their own metal.
As with any transaction when you buy an airline ticket you should read and understand what you are agreeing to.
That said I very much doubt that BA had the obligation to keep parties on different reservations on the same flight unless those reservations were linked and the airline promises that they will treat linked reservation as a single party and that they pledge to keep parties together or its been held even in the absence of such a promise they are obligated to do so.
It all comes down to what the airline agreed to plus what any regulatory entity requires them to do plus what courts have held they have to do in situations where the customer is similarly situated.
I didn't ask them to put us all together, they have offered it to me when I asked them for accommodation for the other party. They have provided us with hotel accommodation and I asked them if they can also help the other party who were waiting in the economy line. Then they offered me to be put together on the same flight back.
Wife and I were downgraded from F to Y on DL, MSP-GEG, due to a last-minute equipment substitution, a couple of years ago. I had to initiate the refund request but it was processed promptly. I had to “fight” at the gate for exit row seats, but the red jacket finally came through. More leg room for us than my brother and his wife in the F Row 1 bulkhead, plus my non-meal was much...
Wife and I were downgraded from F to Y on DL, MSP-GEG, due to a last-minute equipment substitution, a couple of years ago. I had to initiate the refund request but it was processed promptly. I had to “fight” at the gate for exit row seats, but the red jacket finally came through. More leg room for us than my brother and his wife in the F Row 1 bulkhead, plus my non-meal was much better than the dry chicken they complained about up in F. The brother always reminds me of Tim!
Last year we had Iberia biz class MAD-JFK. We were downgraded to coach. We received Avios back per EU rules.
My problem was that we got jerked around in MAD. We had lots of time, but nobody wanted to tell us about the equipment change. I knew there was a problem because they were messing around with our seat assignment.
After a delay, we finally boarded. As I went to give the agent my boarding...
Last year we had Iberia biz class MAD-JFK. We were downgraded to coach. We received Avios back per EU rules.
My problem was that we got jerked around in MAD. We had lots of time, but nobody wanted to tell us about the equipment change. I knew there was a problem because they were messing around with our seat assignment.
After a delay, we finally boarded. As I went to give the agent my boarding pass, he took it and gave me a ticket, separated from my wife (who was also downgraded) near the back in the middle of a five seat row!
Had I been informed of the problem timely, I would have opted to fly the next day, but they sucker punched me. I will think twice before flying Iberia in the future.
Last year we had Iberia biz class MAD-JFK. We were downgraded to coach. We received Avios back per EU rules.
My problem was that we got jerked around in MAD. We had lots of time, but nobody wanted to tell us about the equipment change. I knew there was a problem because they were messing around with our seat assignment.
After a delay, we finally boarded. As I went to give the agent my boarding...
Last year we had Iberia biz class MAD-JFK. We were downgraded to coach. We received Avios back per EU rules.
My problem was that we got jerked around in MAD. We had lots of time, but nobody wanted to tell us about the equipment change. I knew there was a problem because they were messing around with our seat assignment.
After a delay, we finally boarded. As I went to give the agent my boarding pass, he took it and gave me a ticket, separated from my wife (who was also downgraded) near the back in the middle of a five seat row!
Had I been informed of the problem timely, I would have opted to fly the next day, but they sucker punched me. I will think twice before flying Iberia in the future.
A friend of mine got downgraded on a Middle Eastern carrier for the first segment of a connecting itinerary. They calculated the fare difference based on the difference between a one-way economy full fare for one segment, versus the prorated amount of the actual business class fare they had paid. Consequently, they actually claimed that the downgraded passenger owed them money as the Economy Class ticket was more expensive by their calculations. After much argument,...
A friend of mine got downgraded on a Middle Eastern carrier for the first segment of a connecting itinerary. They calculated the fare difference based on the difference between a one-way economy full fare for one segment, versus the prorated amount of the actual business class fare they had paid. Consequently, they actually claimed that the downgraded passenger owed them money as the Economy Class ticket was more expensive by their calculations. After much argument, they finally agreed to let them fly in the downgraded seat at no extra charge. Compensation? What compensation!
I was downgraded from business to economy on the TAS-IST segment of a NRT-ICN-TAS-IST-BOS Aeroplan award due to broken seats on a Turkish A330 earlier this year. At the TAS airport Turkish offered 400 euro plus "paid fare difference". Fare difference was calculated to be about $50 (difference in taxes), since this was an award ticket. Didn't bother contacting aeroplan for a pro-rated fare difference for this short-ish flight. 400 euro required an in-person visit...
I was downgraded from business to economy on the TAS-IST segment of a NRT-ICN-TAS-IST-BOS Aeroplan award due to broken seats on a Turkish A330 earlier this year. At the TAS airport Turkish offered 400 euro plus "paid fare difference". Fare difference was calculated to be about $50 (difference in taxes), since this was an award ticket. Didn't bother contacting aeroplan for a pro-rated fare difference for this short-ish flight. 400 euro required an in-person visit to a Turkish sales office in Europe or US to be paid in euro or USD respectively, or could be paid out in Turkish lira in IST without going through immigration. Connection was long enough, so I got it done at IST, even though I lost a bit on double currency conversion (walked the stack of Turkish cash to the exchange booth next door).
Overall, I think Turkish handled it pretty well and were very pro-active. The also gave each of the affected passengers (there were 2 or 3) an entire 4-seat block in the center of the A330 economy cabin, in one of the front non-bulkhead rows that could be converted to a quasi-bed by raising all armrests. Not really needed on a 5-hour daytime flight, but still a nice touch.
On a related note, Aeroplan awards can still be a lot of fun :) A week in Uzbekistan for 5k extra miles (stopover) was a great deal. Too bad TK award space appears to be completely gone from Aeroplan, even in economy.
Fare difference, right. There are no rules how exactly fare difference is supposed to be calculated, so airlines get creative to minimize it. You may have booked the cheapest business fare, and the most expensive economy fare may be actually more expensive, resulting in no refund of fare difference, or a very small amount in most cases.
last December Lufthansa downgraded me from First to Business as my assigned seat was broken. I received 2.000. Euro on my credit card two days later but at the airport I got full first class services (BKK-MUC flight).
I got downgraded from Business to prem econ on AA (US to Europe) on day of travel and they wouldn't let me in to the Flagship lounge. Pathetic.
At this point I have no faith in most airline operators to act in good faith - especially when traveling in the US, where apparently being a reality show contestant is a prerequisite for a serious government job now
Right, Boris was definitely qualified. Ran London with a loose hand and couldn't hold an interview without lying like a complete sociopath caught in the act.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLcCZjDoWTQ
Meanwhile we lead the way in the service economy and boast the hardest working people on Earth (check the stats).
Is accommodated on the next flight with availability in the class you booked a right?
You aren’t clear on that point.
You need to read the airlines contract of carriage. It varies from airline to airline.
For clarification it’s not the entire ticket price but the affected sector. If you had a round trip JFK LHR JFK Buss class and were downgraded only on lhr jfk you aren’t going to get a refund for the fare difference of the inbound.
It’s also between first / business and economy even if downgraded to premium economy as when the regulation was drafted premium didn’t exist.
EU/UK261 have many badly worded sentences....
For clarification it’s not the entire ticket price but the affected sector. If you had a round trip JFK LHR JFK Buss class and were downgraded only on lhr jfk you aren’t going to get a refund for the fare difference of the inbound.
It’s also between first / business and economy even if downgraded to premium economy as when the regulation was drafted premium didn’t exist.
EU/UK261 have many badly worded sentences. In care and assistance they still refer to he right to a phone call or fax. Who has a fax ?
Maybe LH has a fax (to receive Allegris F middle suite selection requests) ;)
How do downgrade refunds work in Europe on an award ticket?
The same. Eg 75% refund for the affected sector of the miles and any difference of the YQ/YR surcharge in “ cash “
That's not correct. The rules require refunds to be made in cash. However they also say that the refund is for a percentage of the fare paid. The rule did not anticipate tickets paid for with points and as a result is obviously internally inconsistent.
Passenger have had widely varied experiences. Some airlines willingly pay in cash. Some refuse entirely and can only be compelled by filing a legal action. Others will stall and...
That's not correct. The rules require refunds to be made in cash. However they also say that the refund is for a percentage of the fare paid. The rule did not anticipate tickets paid for with points and as a result is obviously internally inconsistent.
Passenger have had widely varied experiences. Some airlines willingly pay in cash. Some refuse entirely and can only be compelled by filing a legal action. Others will stall and eventually relent especially in countries with aggressive regulatory agencies.
Absolutely not. If you paid miles you don’t get cash. If you paid cash and miles it’s prorated. Ec261 also confirms that if you pay for a day of dept upgrade and get downgrade you only get a refund of that extra charge, as the original fare paid was eg economy
The title states "What are your rights?". Answer: You have the right to remain silent!
The article states "Reimbursement of 75% of the ticket price for flights of over 3,500km
As you can see, this can quickly become pretty lucrative, especially on long haul flights. "
Not really. If you compare the lie flat business seat with the advanced purchase economy seat, the business seat will often be more than 4 times the price....
The title states "What are your rights?". Answer: You have the right to remain silent!
The article states "Reimbursement of 75% of the ticket price for flights of over 3,500km
As you can see, this can quickly become pretty lucrative, especially on long haul flights. "
Not really. If you compare the lie flat business seat with the advanced purchase economy seat, the business seat will often be more than 4 times the price. The passenger, if they had a crystal ball to predict, would be better off buying an economy seat in the first place several weeks or months earlier than get 75% back of a lie flat business class seat.
Important note about getting refunded the fare difference. Let's say you book a business class ticket 9 months in advance at a pretty good fare. Then you get downgraded on day of travel due to xyz reasons to economy. The airline will use the fare of the economy ticket on that day which will be very high so the fare difference can be very minimal.
Yeah, plus even if calculated on fares 9 months ago, who's to say you would have booked that particular flight? If you were willing to fly economy, you would have compared economy fares, and another routing or airline may have been cheaper.
Is accommodated on the next flight with availability in the class you booked a right?
You aren’t clear on that point.
It depends on the airline. Some obligate themselves to this while others don't. Read the CoC for the carrier you are flying on.
It’s based on the historical fare difference based on the date of purchase for the affected sector.
Is it? That's not what I've read.
@Icarus, you usually have to push for that as airlines can and will try to calculate it in the relevant fare for the day the downgrade occurred. I don’t travel internationally much but I’ve taken screenshots of the booking page on the day I booked to protect myself if this happens - I have read other reports of this helping people get the original fare difference rather than the current one.
I've not seen it explicitly stated in an airline's CoCs but I've only read about 20 of them. Since most of the time the cases aren't litigated and when they are it's in small claims court which aren't published so the result has been a lack of cases to set the formula you describe.
So unless it's clearly stated in the Contract of Carriage your only recourse unless you are satisfied with what the airline has offered is to go to court.