Originally Posted by
Nick Art
This is the complete Article 10 dealing with downgrades.
As you can see no reference for exceptions is made in the Article.
Only for flight cancellations made at least two weeks before the flight are exempt from compensation.
I'm not sure if your situation equals to a flight cancellation this far in advance, but it could be.
If I were you I'd fly F to Sao Paulo (maybe fly LH on the inbound and LX on the outbound?) and then onwards to Rio with one of the brazillian carriers.
LH's argument was that downgrade rules did not apply this far in advance but only at the airport. I think realistically, given the length of advance notice, they could just cancel my ticket at no cost to them, so offering a business class flight + 75% refund would be hoping for too much.
I spoke with my mother and she already decided that she wants her trip in First Class, so we will swing by Sao Paulo on the way to Rio. As much as I dread having to do domestic economy and bagage transfer in Sao Paulo, I will let her decide as it is "her" trip.