Originally Posted by
magsdis
Hello, grateful for advice on this.
Flying London to Boston in May we were downgraded from First to Business. We are travelling on an Avios purchased ticket with a companion voucher. The ticket cost for two people was 148000 return (FIRST out Business back) and £1567.22 cash plus one Companion voucher. To fly business both ways I believe was about 160000 and £750 at the time.
I was told when I accepted the downgrade that I was due a significant fee refund. In addition afterwards by checking on various forums I realised I was also due downgrade compensation in miles or cash.
Since then numerous emails and phone calls we were initially offered 51000 airmiles. Then an extra 10000 air miles per person as a sorry. When I have challenged them about the fees they say no fee difference between the fares!
But they are now offering £500 cash per person as a sorry for the downgrade. However I believe they still owe us 31000 airmiles and plus the fee differences which is greater than £1000.
Any thoughts as to what to do next?
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
The downgrade compensation is not based on any theoretical difference between what the other class might have cost, but is 70% of the money and Avios that was paid for the leg, exclusive of taxes and airport charges, plus 100% of any reduction in taxes and charges.
Taxes and charges would usually be the same between business and first.
I'm not sure how they refund 70% of a voucher so will leave others to advise.
Without knowing the breakdown between the outbound and the return it's not possible to say whether they've met that 70% threshold, but I cannot see any conceivable way that you'd be entitled to £1,000 in money, let alone some higher sum. You say £1,567.22 was the total amount of money paid, APD alone is £388 leaving £1,179.22. Ignoring the other taxes and fees and the fact some of it will be for the return leg, 70% of that much is £825 odd.