Originally Posted by
KingCanute
I'm not an expert on the UK261 legislation, but my understanding was that compensation applied for changes or cancellations notified within 14 days of departure.
For downgrades there is no time limit, note you are not technically due compensation here but instead due a refund of a certain fixed percentage of the price of the ticket. There are certain disingenous airlines such as BA that try to argue that there is no such thing as a downgrade before the day of departure and instead what has happened is your ticket has been cancelled and you have been rebooked and so the downgrade formula doesn't apply, but IIRC there is case law that interpretation is incorrect and I would certaintly dispute this if an airline ever tried to claim this.
Originally Posted by
HarryHolden68
Having booked flights some time ago, I happened to look at the booking online and was surprised to see two sectors had been downgraded from F to J. Investigation shows this is due to an aircraft change from a 388 to a 773. Ignoring that nobody has seen fit to inform me of this, it is disappointing because I was looking forward to experiencing the QR F product and the First lounge in DOH and see how it compares to Q-Suites experience. I see that the 388 remains on these flights on other days around my booking. These were revenue bookings, both in F-class. I have two questions for the group:
1. Will QR permit First lounge access in DOH, even on request of a note made in the PNR visible to lounge staff?
2. Does anyone know of a reason may this may be a temporary move as they transition the timetable? Could it change back?
The flights in question are on
QR105, DOH-LHR departing at 01:10 on 24th October
QR10 LHR-DOH departing at 08:35 on 28th October
Seeking alternative flights is problematic. BA seem to have BA126 leaving a few minutes later on 24th October. Although scheduled a 773 with a First cabin, BA are not selling tickets in First, but Qatar are offering them. There is nothing that seems to work on the return. Timings cannot change too much as I am connecting onto other flights.
Appreciate the forums perspectives on this. If nothing else, some significant EU compensation coming.
Quite honestly if you have paid cash I would probably rather pocket the cash and fly in Qsuites, there really isn't all that much differentiation between QR F and J these days. I don't know the answer on Al Safwa access here but if your underlying ticket basis remains an F class ticket then I suspect you may still be able to get access. If the ticket is booked via QR, you can also buy cash access even in the unlikely event QR doesn't permit you access. Quite honestly Al Safwa is nothing special these days so don't feel too disheartened.