Order of importance between passengers (algorithm)
Feb 11, 2024, 4:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2023
Location: 👉 flyingbluealerts.com
Posts: 29
Order of importance between passengers (algorithm)
Controversial title (I know)! Just the day before departure my in laws got downgraded from J to W because of the change of equipment (772 instead of 77W). Hopefully they got switched to an earlier flight.
They both are Explorer status, and had booked award tickets 2 months in advance (before the cabin was full I assume).
Curious to know why they got kicked out of J instead of other pax. On what criteria passengers are sorted? Status? Paid/reward? Booking class/price?
Anyone knows?
They both are Explorer status, and had booked award tickets 2 months in advance (before the cabin was full I assume).
Curious to know why they got kicked out of J instead of other pax. On what criteria passengers are sorted? Status? Paid/reward? Booking class/price?
Anyone knows?
Feb 11, 2024, 5:55 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Presumably all of the above?
Moreover, EC261 compensation calls for a percentage of the fare so it would make sense for them to downgrade the 'chepaer' tickets, would be interesting to see how they calculate the compensation.
Moreover, EC261 compensation calls for a percentage of the fare so it would make sense for them to downgrade the 'chepaer' tickets, would be interesting to see how they calculate the compensation.
Feb 11, 2024, 5:57 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,406
Edit: both because of applicability questions (delay would not be covered, but does that Airhelp/OS case also imply anything about downgrades?), but also because the downgrade compensation is proportional to distance of the leg relative to the trip: if doing 2 3k mile legs, one of them being downgraded would result in 2250/6000 of the trip refunded, while someone flying only that leg would get 2250/3000 of their ticket. Connecting traffic is also generally lower yield than non-stop.
Last edited by hhdl; Feb 11, 2024 at 6:04 am
Feb 11, 2024, 6:21 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
EC261 would also potentially favor downgrading those connecting NS-CDG/AMS-NS.
Edit: both because of applicability questions (delay would not be covered, but does that Airhelp/OS case also imply anything about downgrades?), but also because the downgrade compensation is proportional to distance of the leg relative to the trip: if doing 2 3k mile legs, one of them being downgraded would result in 2250/6000 of the trip refunded, while someone flying only that leg would get 2250/3000 of their ticket. Connecting traffic is also generally lower yield than non-stop.
Edit: both because of applicability questions (delay would not be covered, but does that Airhelp/OS case also imply anything about downgrades?), but also because the downgrade compensation is proportional to distance of the leg relative to the trip: if doing 2 3k mile legs, one of them being downgraded would result in 2250/6000 of the trip refunded, while someone flying only that leg would get 2250/3000 of their ticket. Connecting traffic is also generally lower yield than non-stop.
Feb 11, 2024, 8:47 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,928
No one know exactly but status weighs a lot. Ulti and Plat are never downgraded, in principle (or the very last). Paid vs award ? yes, certainly. Fare ? not sure. Corporate account may play a role too. But you have also many other factors. One example : if you have blocked-seat code-share agreements.
Feb 11, 2024, 10:06 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 760
EC261 would also potentially favor downgrading those connecting NS-CDG/AMS-NS.
Edit: both because of applicability questions (delay would not be covered, but does that Airhelp/OS case also imply anything about downgrades?), but also because the downgrade compensation is proportional to distance of the leg relative to the trip: if doing 2 3k mile legs, one of them being downgraded would result in 2250/6000 of the trip refunded, while someone flying only that leg would get 2250/3000 of their ticket. Connecting traffic is also generally lower yield than non-stop.
Edit: both because of applicability questions (delay would not be covered, but does that Airhelp/OS case also imply anything about downgrades?), but also because the downgrade compensation is proportional to distance of the leg relative to the trip: if doing 2 3k mile legs, one of them being downgraded would result in 2250/6000 of the trip refunded, while someone flying only that leg would get 2250/3000 of their ticket. Connecting traffic is also generally lower yield than non-stop.
Feb 12, 2024, 3:35 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: FB
Posts: 7
I (plat) recently flew with my 14 year old daughter (exp) from AMS to BHX and she was operationally upgraded and I wasn't. Couldn't make sense of it and kinda tells me the algorithm is a joke or the agent thought I was the joke...
Feb 12, 2024, 4:00 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2023
Location: 👉 flyingbluealerts.com
Posts: 29
MIA-CDG-BOD, connecting flight didn't seem to have played any role in that case. I didn't get to talk compensation with AF as they managed to move them back to J on an earlier flight.
Feb 12, 2024, 4:09 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Operational upgrade and downgrade algorithms have certainly different parameters.
Feb 12, 2024, 5:49 am
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,064
Further, the 772 does not have W at this time, so I don't see how this is even possible?
Feb 12, 2024, 6:55 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I have the feeling you are confusing AF with KL. It's AF here in this discussion.
Feb 12, 2024, 6:22 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: DL DM, TK ELP, LA PASS Black, FB Platinum
Posts: 108
Had the same last year. Booking together with my wife. I am platinum she was at that moment silver. She got an operational upgrade I am not. Silly. There is no logical algorithm. Since that moment I think status is irrelevant