MSPeconomist

One problem I have with EC261 is that in delays it gives carriers a disincentive to follow FIFO (first in first out) procedures. Once someone is eligible for the maximum EC261 delay compensation, there's no incentive to prioritize finding a seat for that customer. Instead, carriers should give available seats to those who can still arrive early enough so as not to receive the (maximum) delay compensation. I'm not sure this is fair.

More importantly, downgrade reimbursement/compensation is 75% of the applicable fare paid (on longer flights) for any/all involuntary downgrades, so carriers *should* under such rules give a FC passenger a coach seat rather than sending the FC passenger to business class, a business class passenger to premium economy, and a premium economy back to coach. In addition, there's an incentive to pick the person with the cheapest ticket (including award tickets) to downgrade first, independent of FF status or HVC recognition at that airline. In addition, if instead of a downgrade a passenger wants to wait for a flight with space available in the purchased cabin class, there's no right to do so and no right to any compensation or reimbursement for the resulting delay.