Questions and Answers

I just noticed your article about united changing the plane type from SFO to HKG. We bought premium economy seats for a feb 2020 flight. I just checked and that is no longer available and the plane changed. What do airlines do for you in that situation. Wanted to get your opinion before I call airlines. They only offer economy plus which is basically extra legroom. Nowhere near the premium economy with 2 seats side by side and basically a domestic first class seat.

[QUOTE=”Darlene Dennison, post: 66677, member: 6000″]I just noticed your article about united changing the plane type from SFO to HKG. We bought premium economy seats for a feb 2020 flight. I just checked and that is no longer available and the plane changed. What do airlines do for you in that situation. Wanted to get your opinion before I call airlines. They only offer economy plus which is basically extra legroom. Nowhere near the premium economy with 2 seats side by side and basically a domestic first class seat.[/QUOTE]

You should be able to either: get a full refund; or get a refund for the difference in fare. If the economy fair has risen since you purchased the PE tickets the fare difference may not be as great as you hope.

You didn’t say who you’re flying with. I’ve had similar changes in the past on AA when I’ve gone from a good business class seat to an inferior one on a plane swap and I’ve always been able to change flights to get an alternate flight with the product I paid for. I realize this isn’t always possible when an airline has only one flight a day to a destination but you might check your airline’s other flights to your destination and have an alternative flight in mind before you phone in and ask for a change or refund, whatever the case may be.

Keep in mind that your flight is still 5 months away and there’s plenty of time for the aircraft to be swapped several times until then. So changing your flight now won’t ensure that the aircraft won’t change again.

@Darlene – Even if there is potential for several aircraft swaps in the next five months, I wouldn’t ignore the popularity (fast selling) and scarcity of PE seats. I’d look for alternative flights sooner rather than later.

[QUOTE=”Gia, post: 66702, member: 1566″]@Darlene – Even if there is potential for several aircraft swaps in the next five months, I wouldn’t ignore the popularity (fast selling) and scarcity of PE seats. I’d look for alternative flights sooner rather than later.[/QUOTE]

And while aircraft swaps are common, UA made a very deliberate and conscious decision to downgrade from the 773 to the 772 on this route, so I wouldn’t hold my breathe that a change is coming in the next 5 months.

You would be entitled to a refund of fare difference between Premium, and Economy.