Originally Posted by
Anonba
If you read it carefully the equal or higher part only applies if it is a different booking class that is used. If it was the same booking class then you could use a fare that was lower.
What matters is the fare rules applicable to the OP's purchase, which I don't see as having been posted. I have come across fare rules that only permit movement to the same or a higher fare; this may be the case for the OP's fare; unless the full rules are posted, it is just guesswork on whether the rules have been correctly interpreted by the agent