Originally Posted by
YVR72
If you book a specific seat that exists on almost all widebody aircraft (from row 7 forward, and A, F or K) then you can minimize exposure to down-gauges. I have lucked out this way many times. In fact, recently I had 1A on a DH4 that was upgauged to a CR9 and ended up in business class (well, with economy service).
That's actually an interesting case. I'm envisioning something like YHZ-YOW-LHR on a J fare, but with an all-Y cabin on the first segment. If they upgauge to something with a J cabin, I'd expect the J fare pax to have absolute priority on those seats, even if they don't offer J service. Just because it was scheduled as all-Y doesn't mean no one paid for J.