Since this is actually a case of a mixed cabin reward booking rather than the originally purported downgrade, I'm going to merge it with the existing in-depth thread on mixed cabin bookings so that [MENTION=25659]vinnmann[/MENTION] might potentially benefit from information posted here, while others in future may be able to learn something from this.
Originally Posted by
vinnmann
Update: At the airport, I asked to be seated in J for the second segment and if I needed to buy the upgrade. Agent indicated she could not sell me an upgrade, but they would move me to J when I get to YUL. I interpreted that to mean she did not want to deal with it so she will let the YUL staff tell me no.
As has been stated above, and as you can see from the posts upthread, you're clearly not entitled to J. However, keep in mind that many AC staff have been off for significant periods of time, and that even those who have worked through the pandemic without interruption have had limited experience with some features of the new program, as well as the new airport computer system, which was implemented just as the pandemic was taking hold. This particular agent may simply have been confused and, like you, thinking about
the old rules.
Surprisingly, my boarding pass for the YUL-MCO segment says Invitation Lounge/Salon so I am hoping I will at least get lounge access in YUL.
Not entirely surprising, given some of the experiences posted in the
mixed cabin lounge access thread.