BAEC Gold Card involuntary cabin downgrade
Apr 10, 2018, 3:15 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cheshire
Programs: BA, Accor, Hilton, ITA
Posts: 376
Not quite the same magnitude, but as both Gold we had reserved 1D and 1F on a return CE from IST to LHR few years ago. Night before our seats moved to row 7 with no notification. Bit of a BA mystery then followed. Gold line said for operational reasons due to local ground staff reason. At the airport the Checkin manager said nothing to do with them the IT log shows it was done by a ‘staff member in London’.
A single bloke was sitting in our seats with what I presume was a blocked seat next to him. After pursuing afterwards we got Avios service recovery. But it’s not official BA policy to move people from their seats. I reckon it was a Premier traveller but just a hunch as I didn’t see the Black status indication on the CSMs iPad neither ;-O
The crew by the way were really nice to us the whole flight as we told them on boarding and we just got constantly topped up with champagne the whole way! Quite memorable also as I left my iPad in the upper seat pocket in front of me and never saw it again! Which I obviously wouldn’t have done had I been in Row 1!
I think the point being Gold doesn’t mean your Teflon coated. Always bigger fish than you.
A single bloke was sitting in our seats with what I presume was a blocked seat next to him. After pursuing afterwards we got Avios service recovery. But it’s not official BA policy to move people from their seats. I reckon it was a Premier traveller but just a hunch as I didn’t see the Black status indication on the CSMs iPad neither ;-O
The crew by the way were really nice to us the whole flight as we told them on boarding and we just got constantly topped up with champagne the whole way! Quite memorable also as I left my iPad in the upper seat pocket in front of me and never saw it again! Which I obviously wouldn’t have done had I been in Row 1!
I think the point being Gold doesn’t mean your Teflon coated. Always bigger fish than you.
Apr 10, 2018, 3:45 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: YYZ / LHR
Programs: AC SE100k
Posts: 262
About 6 years ago, back when I was a Silver cardholder, I got downgraded once coming back from Las Vegas. I had an Avios ticket in J, had an assigned seat, and had even checked in and had an electronic boarding pass. When I showed up at the airport, I was told that I was being downgraded to W because the flight was oversold and that they had picked me because I had an Avios ticket. When I showed them my boarding pass, they matter-of-factly told me that I had been offloaded.
I argued with the local manager for over 30 minutes. I never raised my voice and remained entirely civil, but managed to convince them that there would be other people easier to downgrade than me. I got put back in the UD on the 744, but lost the 62K assignment I had originally reserved.
I argued with the local manager for over 30 minutes. I never raised my voice and remained entirely civil, but managed to convince them that there would be other people easier to downgrade than me. I got put back in the UD on the 744, but lost the 62K assignment I had originally reserved.
Apr 10, 2018, 3:52 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 629
About 6 years ago, back when I was a Silver cardholder, I got downgraded once coming back from Las Vegas. I had an Avios ticket in J, had an assigned seat, and had even checked in and had an electronic boarding pass. When I showed up at the airport, I was told that I was being downgraded to W because the flight was oversold and that they had picked me because I had an Avios ticket. When I showed them my boarding pass, they matter-of-factly told me that I had been offloaded.
I argued with the local manager for over 30 minutes. I never raised my voice and remained entirely civil, but managed to convince them that there would be other people easier to downgrade than me. I got put back in the UD on the 744, but lost the 62K assignment I had originally reserved.
I argued with the local manager for over 30 minutes. I never raised my voice and remained entirely civil, but managed to convince them that there would be other people easier to downgrade than me. I got put back in the UD on the 744, but lost the 62K assignment I had originally reserved.
Apr 10, 2018, 4:15 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
Apr 10, 2018, 6:21 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 559
My personal opinion is that those who either don't select seats, or those who don't OLCI should not be automatic victims.
Apr 10, 2018, 6:27 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 559
Hi - Yes I was downgraded this weekend on a long haul flight. Im a BA Gold card holder, have been a member for years. No special circumstances - booked a full fare ticket, when i went to check in they told me they haven't assigned me a seat and that ive been downgraded. All the BA staff i spoke to said they had never seen this happen. I had colleagues on the same flight that aren't BA Gold and weren't downgraded.
The "they haven't assigned me a seat" excuse was used on my wife and she was downgraded. She had in fact selected a seat at time of booking, they just "booted her" out of it to make way for someone else. She was unable to check in as a result and that is when she was downgraded. She didn't know what her rights would be but was downgraded to Y (from WT+) "if she wanted to get home that day". That was BA LAS-LHR, she is Gold (but GGL nominated) cash ticket so it does happen.
Apr 10, 2018, 6:32 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Apr 10, 2018, 6:40 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 559
Really? I did not know that. I am sure (on AA though so maybe different regs) that if you have a boarding pass, then they attempt to downgrade and you refuse then its IDB? Could very well be wrong though.
Apr 10, 2018, 6:47 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
For EU261 downgrade is referred to separately to IDB. For downgrade you apply a different article.
Apr 10, 2018, 6:50 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 559
I'm a GCH (recently "downgraded" from GGL). I have been downgraded from F to J twice in the last 2 years flying LHR to IAD. Both times I was told it was because the whole cabin was downgraded (i.e. not just me) to make room for politicians who needed the entire F cabin for "security' reasons (I have no idea who the politicians were because I couldn't get past the red ropes!).
On both occasions I was given a 75% refund, a very generous avios service recovery, and 2 service recovery ad hoc upgrades. I also received an apology telephone call from special services a few days after each time.
On both occasions I was given a 75% refund, a very generous avios service recovery, and 2 service recovery ad hoc upgrades. I also received an apology telephone call from special services a few days after each time.
Apr 11, 2018, 12:51 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 573
Apr 11, 2018, 3:21 am
#43
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK & Switzerland
Programs: BA; LH; AF
Posts: 145
About four years ago I was on the last leg of a long trip, MEX-LHR, with a paid J (D) ticket. I had upgraded with Avios to F, had checked in online, and was armed with a gold card. Arrived at the airport to be told that the AF flight had gone tech and they had to "change things around" as a load of passengers from that flight had been loaded onto the BA one. My upgrade was revoked, and I got downgraded from J to W. In addition, because I arrived at the airport about 90 minutes before the flight, the only seat left in W was the last row E, with limited recline. I wasn't very happy, but they were adamant that was all they could do. Until another staff member came along and downgraded me further to Y, but with a full row to myself at the back of the plane. I was brought as much champagne as I could handle, meal from F (albeit on a limited menu choice), F bedding, was escorted off the plane first, and generally fawned over by the CSD and other crew, including someone from the flight deck who came to check that I was OK. I can't remember what refund I got, but I know I got my miles back, and received 100k Avios by way of apology. I could complain about the fact of being downgraded, but with a row of 3 seats to myself, I got a decent night's sleep, and very good service from the crew.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened again. Yet.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened again. Yet.
Apr 11, 2018, 3:55 am
#44
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,611
About four years ago I was on the last leg of a long trip, MEX-LHR, with a paid J (D) ticket. I had upgraded with Avios to F, had checked in online, and was armed with a gold card. Arrived at the airport to be told that the AF flight had gone tech and they had to "change things around" as a load of passengers from that flight had been loaded onto the BA one. My upgrade was revoked, and I got downgraded from J to W. In addition, because I arrived at the airport about 90 minutes before the flight, the only seat left in W was the last row E, with limited recline. I wasn't very happy, but they were adamant that was all they could do. Until another staff member came along and downgraded me further to Y, but with a full row to myself at the back of the plane. I was brought as much champagne as I could handle, meal from F (albeit on a limited menu choice), F bedding, was escorted off the plane first, and generally fawned over by the CSD and other crew, including someone from the flight deck who came to check that I was OK. I can't remember what refund I got, but I know I got my miles back, and received 100k Avios by way of apology. I could complain about the fact of being downgraded, but with a row of 3 seats to myself, I got a decent night's sleep, and very good service from the crew.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened again. Yet.
Thankfully, it hasn't happened again. Yet.
