Cabin downgraded - options
Jun 24, 2020, 8:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
Cabin downgraded - options
Hi Guys
Apologies if this has been covered before.
Booked to fly in August, First out, Club return. Got an email saying flight out has been downgraded to Club (aircraft change, I think).
Not particularly happy, as this is a celebratory trip, and looked forward to the lounges (if they are anything like they were before).
Are we entitled to a partial refund, and will it simply be the difference between the ticket prices at the time?
Are we entitled to a total refund, or would the flight have to be cancelled for that?
We also paid to have seats in the upper part of the 747 on the return flight, so presumably BA can’t keep that.
Irrespective of this, we were offered the voucher a couple of weeks ago. Whilst this isn’t the end of the world, I’m concerned that prices may change over the next year or so, and we would be expected to fork out more cash to do the same trip.
Thanks for any advice.
Apologies if this has been covered before.
Booked to fly in August, First out, Club return. Got an email saying flight out has been downgraded to Club (aircraft change, I think).
Not particularly happy, as this is a celebratory trip, and looked forward to the lounges (if they are anything like they were before).
Are we entitled to a partial refund, and will it simply be the difference between the ticket prices at the time?
Are we entitled to a total refund, or would the flight have to be cancelled for that?
We also paid to have seats in the upper part of the 747 on the return flight, so presumably BA can’t keep that.
Irrespective of this, we were offered the voucher a couple of weeks ago. Whilst this isn’t the end of the world, I’m concerned that prices may change over the next year or so, and we would be expected to fork out more cash to do the same trip.
Thanks for any advice.
Jun 24, 2020, 9:36 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 71
Hi Guys
Apologies if this has been covered before.
Booked to fly in August, First out, Club return. Got an email saying flight out has been downgraded to Club (aircraft change, I think).
Not particularly happy, as this is a celebratory trip, and looked forward to the lounges (if they are anything like they were before).
Are we entitled to a partial refund, and will it simply be the difference between the ticket prices at the time?
Are we entitled to a total refund, or would the flight have to be cancelled for that?
We also paid to have seats in the upper part of the 747 on the return flight, so presumably BA can’t keep that.
Irrespective of this, we were offered the voucher a couple of weeks ago. Whilst this isn’t the end of the world, I’m concerned that prices may change over the next year or so, and we would be expected to fork out more cash to do the same trip.
Thanks for any advice.
Apologies if this has been covered before.
Booked to fly in August, First out, Club return. Got an email saying flight out has been downgraded to Club (aircraft change, I think).
Not particularly happy, as this is a celebratory trip, and looked forward to the lounges (if they are anything like they were before).
Are we entitled to a partial refund, and will it simply be the difference between the ticket prices at the time?
Are we entitled to a total refund, or would the flight have to be cancelled for that?
We also paid to have seats in the upper part of the 747 on the return flight, so presumably BA can’t keep that.
Irrespective of this, we were offered the voucher a couple of weeks ago. Whilst this isn’t the end of the world, I’m concerned that prices may change over the next year or so, and we would be expected to fork out more cash to do the same trip.
Thanks for any advice.
Last edited by SilverSkier; Jun 24, 2020 at 9:39 am Reason: Add more information
Jun 24, 2020, 9:39 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
EC 261/2004 provides a reimbursement of either 30 or 75% of the base air fare (percentage dependent on distance covered by the flight). So you could take that and fly in CW.
While the Regulation does not require a reroute or a refund, BA is unlikely to put up must of a fuss and will likely accommodate a reasonable reroute or a refund if that is what you wish.
What is your routing and what are the alternatives?
While the Regulation does not require a reroute or a refund, BA is unlikely to put up must of a fuss and will likely accommodate a reasonable reroute or a refund if that is what you wish.
What is your routing and what are the alternatives?
Jun 24, 2020, 9:52 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
I believe that in theses circumstances BA regard this as a cancellation rather than a downgrade.
So you will be able to get the cancellation options offered - full refund, reroute, date change etc. but you will not get the 75% compensation offered. Some members have reported challenging this through CEDR or the courts.
What I’m not clear on is whether the Covid cancellation policy would apply which would allow a date change right up to the validity of the ticket, which reading the original post could be beneficial to the OP.
So you will be able to get the cancellation options offered - full refund, reroute, date change etc. but you will not get the 75% compensation offered. Some members have reported challenging this through CEDR or the courts.
What I’m not clear on is whether the Covid cancellation policy would apply which would allow a date change right up to the validity of the ticket, which reading the original post could be beneficial to the OP.
Jun 24, 2020, 10:02 am
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Jun 24, 2020, 11:06 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP may have to pursue this through CEDR or possibly even MCOL, but if he is willing to sit in CW, he will have a relatively simple claim for EC 261/2004 downgrade reimbursement should BA deny it initially. Whether that is 30% or 75% of the base fare will depend on the distance covered by the flight.
I would do the arithmetic calculations first. 75% of an expensive F segment base fare might be a tidy sum.
I would do the arithmetic calculations first. 75% of an expensive F segment base fare might be a tidy sum.
Jun 24, 2020, 12:41 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
Thanks for the input, guys.
Cash
Excellent. Sounds fair.
LHR-DEN. Any rerouting would be a pain
Thanks
To be fair, not this August.
Cool
worth considering.
Again, really appreciate the input.
I had exactly that scenario recently - downgraded from F to J on one sector. I was offered a re-route but I asked for a refund for the whole return trip instead and there was no problem - it was processed within a few days. It was a cash booking made directly with BA.
EC 261/2004 provides a reimbursement of either 30 or 75% of the base air fare (percentage dependent on distance covered by the flight). So you could take that and fly in CW.
While the Regulation does not require a reroute or a refund, BA is unlikely to put up must of a fuss and will likely accommodate a reasonable reroute or a refund if that is what you wish.
What is your routing and what are the alternatives?
While the Regulation does not require a reroute or a refund, BA is unlikely to put up must of a fuss and will likely accommodate a reasonable reroute or a refund if that is what you wish.
What is your routing and what are the alternatives?
I believe that in theses circumstances BA regard this as a cancellation rather than a downgrade.
So you will be able to get the cancellation options offered - full refund, reroute, date change etc. but you will not get the 75% compensation offered. Some members have reported challenging this through CEDR or the courts.
What I’m not clear on is whether the Covid cancellation policy would apply which would allow a date change right up to the validity of the ticket, which reading the original post could be beneficial to the OP.
So you will be able to get the cancellation options offered - full refund, reroute, date change etc. but you will not get the 75% compensation offered. Some members have reported challenging this through CEDR or the courts.
What I’m not clear on is whether the Covid cancellation policy would apply which would allow a date change right up to the validity of the ticket, which reading the original post could be beneficial to the OP.
To be fair, not this August.
OP may have to pursue this through CEDR or possibly even MCOL, but if he is willing to sit in CW, he will have a relatively simple claim for EC 261/2004 downgrade reimbursement should BA deny it initially. Whether that is 30% or 75% of the base fare will depend on the distance covered by the flight.
I would do the arithmetic calculations first. 75% of an expensive F segment base fare might be a tidy sum.
I would do the arithmetic calculations first. 75% of an expensive F segment base fare might be a tidy sum.
Again, really appreciate the input.
Jun 24, 2020, 12:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver, Delta Platinum medallion
Posts: 278
I’ve got a Sept 1 LHR>DEN holiday booked and have zero expectation that it will go ahead. Denver isn’t one of the approved international gateways and I can’t see it changing before then. It’s still showing a 747 on 1 sep.