This last week I returned Shanghai-SFO-PHL on an economy ticket that was upgraded using one of my 1K international upgrade coupons. So I had confirmed a confirmed seat in C PVG-SFO and F SFO-PHL.

All was fine PVG-SFO but when I got to the gate for the PHL departure, I was told that there was a last minute aircraft substitution, an Airbus 319 instead of an Airbus 320 and therefore four people originally booked had to be downgraded. And despite my 1K status, I was one of them (as was my wife who was travelling with me).

As "compensation" we were each given a "downgrade coupon" entitling us to a domestic F upgrade.

This does not strike me as "compensation", is it? It seems like I was just being given back what I had already "paid" for. Compensation for the broken promise of the upgrade would mean something additional. The gate agent, when I asked, became quite rude if not also belligerent. So I stopped my questions.

I found UA's customer service to be very unsympathetic. I was told that I was given back what I did not receive. Upon more pressure, I was offered two $75 off but coupons, but when I pointed out they were worthless since I make my bookings on united.com, she decided the "compensation" was worth to UG 500's into each of our MP accounts. And that was that.

Is that the standard practice now in that kind of a situation or was I finessed?