Originally Posted by jcooke
Agreed, there seems to be no standardized procedure as far as procedures that happen with downgrades. I've actually been assigned in row2 on larger planes and then the dreaded 757 swap comes in - I get moved out on an upgraded B fare. Other times I've heard of people in these seats were semi-protected.
I had it happen where I had an upgraded seat ex-LAS on a "shorty" 757 during the transition period, and at least two people who paid (or claimed to pay, given the amount of huff exchanged) were in the back. I fully expected to be given the boot, especially given that my upgrade cleared day of departure.
Were it me, I'd do downgrades thusly (in reverse order of who would get downgraded):
Last to go: purchased F fares. Sort by fare paid if it comes to that.
US1
US2
US3
US4
Within the preferred ranks, either sort by fare paid or status miles to date in the year (the roach in me says miles are the way to go, but fare paid is also a possibility, IMO).
If they would not tell you why, it's almost certainly a FAM.