Downgrade after upgrade?
Dec 6, 2019, 4:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC Gold, Mariott Titanium, United 1K
Posts: 60
Downgrade after upgrade?
On a HKG to TPE flight and was refreshing my mobile boarding pass before the flight. I saw I got upgraded to PEY which was nice, but right before boarding I got downgraded back to economy again. I asked the crew what happened and they told me that someone with the same status as me (gold) decided to buy an upgrade at the last minute and that I was downgraded back to my original seat. Once I was to board, I actually got bumped up to PEY again. Now I’m not complaining since I eventually did get the upgrade but more out of curiosity, can they downgrade you for reasons like this? Also, what the staff told me was obviously a lie if I managed to get the upgrade in the end.
Dec 6, 2019, 5:18 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
On a HKG to TPE flight and was refreshing my mobile boarding pass before the flight. I saw I got upgraded to PEY which was nice, but right before boarding I got downgraded back to economy again. I asked the crew what happened and they told me that someone with the same status as me (gold) decided to buy an upgrade at the last minute and that I was downgraded back to my original seat. Once I was to board, I actually got bumped up to PEY again. Now I’m not complaining since I eventually did get the upgrade but more out of curiosity, can they downgrade you for reasons like this? Also, what the staff told me was obviously a lie if I managed to get the upgrade in the end.
Dec 6, 2019, 7:30 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 564
I don't see why not. It would be annoying as a passenger and not impress one with the airline, but if you bought an economy ticket then there's no obligation to give you an upgrade. Saying you have it then taking it away isn't a smooth way to handle things, but it seems within the airline's rights.
Dec 6, 2019, 12:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
On a HKG to TPE flight and was refreshing my mobile boarding pass before the flight. I saw I got upgraded to PEY which was nice, but right before boarding I got downgraded back to economy again. I asked the crew what happened and they told me that someone with the same status as me (gold) decided to buy an upgrade at the last minute and that I was downgraded back to my original seat. Once I was to board, I actually got bumped up to PEY again. Now I’m not complaining since I eventually did get the upgrade but more out of curiosity, can they downgrade you for reasons like this? Also, what the staff told me was obviously a lie if I managed to get the upgrade in the end.
Dec 9, 2019, 8:04 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 679
On a HKG to TPE flight and was refreshing my mobile boarding pass before the flight. I saw I got upgraded to PEY which was nice, but right before boarding I got downgraded back to economy again. I asked the crew what happened and they told me that someone with the same status as me (gold) decided to buy an upgrade at the last minute and that I was downgraded back to my original seat. Once I was to board, I actually got bumped up to PEY again. Now I’m not complaining since I eventually did get the upgrade but more out of curiosity, can they downgrade you for reasons like this? Also, what the staff told me was obviously a lie if I managed to get the upgrade in the end.
How you know its a lie???
Dec 11, 2019, 3:41 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
They've done this to me. Without the final upgrade. I can assure you, it's possible and hugely depressing. I prefer not to be upgraded at all than go up and then down!