I'm not quite sure I'm posting this in in the right place, but here goes...
I have been monitoring June 2020 roundtrips from ORD-DUB or EWR-DUB for several weeks now -- first time trip to Ireland for my husband and me, and I'm a planner. Euro Cup games are being played in Dublin that week of June and it's high season for tourists, so I'm sort of concerned about flights -- we have very little flexibility in our dates as we are meeting friends over there.
Aer Lingus out of ORD is an option pricewise (Airbus 330-300) -- We like the 2-4-2 configuration (the 2 part) but the economy seats seem small for my husband (6'3, 195 lbs). Price from our home in Nashville currently about $1100 each in Economy seats.
But today a new option came up -- United had its Premium Plus (R) seats at what looked like a good price this morning on a 787-10 Dreamliner (lower than their Economy or Economy Plus). Seats would be $1400 each, Premium Plus from EWR-DUB and back, including tax and our connecting flight from Nashville (which would be Economy Plus (B). So an extra cost over Aer Lingus Economy of about $300 each, roundtrip -- $150 per leg. Just checked again and these same tickets are more than $500 more (??).
I have some questions tho before my 24Hr No-Risk Hold expires:
1) The eticket says the BNA-EWR and EWR-BNA are "Economy (B)" but I have seats selected for Economy Plus. If the plane type changes will I be forced into Economy seats, despite my assigned seat number? Not a big deal on the shorter flights, but still....
2) Bigger deal: Unlike the wording of the electronic receipt, the eticket says the EWR-DUB and DUB-EWR (UA 22 and 23) legs are "Premium Economy (R)," which I'm not sure is the same as the new Premium Plus. The word "Economy" is throwing me there. Seat assignments are for Row 21 A and B, definitely in the Premium Plus section, however.
Could the equipment change since we are so far out -- and what are the odds of that happening? And if so, could we be moved into a different fare class (say on a flight that doesn't have Premium Plus)? Do we have any recourse or do we just accept whatever they give us at the time? The main reason we would book this flight at the higher price is for the improved seating for my husband -- times are also a bit more convenient and we really like the 2-seat configuration as a couple.
Should I be fretting about any of this? And am I booking too early (only a few other seats have been sold on these flights)? Should I wait?