dlen111

not trying to argue, but isnt IDB what the airline offers within the law?

if they offer a cert and you take it, isnt that legit? if they off some BS and then I/you/the pax envokes said law (not sure what exactly the law is) then they must adhere, but if they offer me a bag of peanuts and a seat on a later flight and i except, arent they in the clear?

kinda like how VDB comp starts at $200 and then seems to go up when nobody bites....

maybe im confusing IDB with VDB. it seems the pax in question in EWR might have been considered VDB.

GoingAway

The passenger didn't sign anything, so no the airline shouldn't be off the hook for IDB compensation. The really important thing here is that IDB should go into the airlines stats with dot. They get singed if the IDB numbers go to high, and reporting is required. Dropping that cert was a salve to shut them up so the passengers wouldn't complain, and they didn't thus getting the airline off the hook.

channa

Well, from the comp perspective you're right. But from a reporting perspective, you're still an IDB if you're denied boarding at the airline's request. Even if you accept certificate compensation instead of cash, you're still an IDB if you did not have the option to board the plane.

You're a VDB if the airline is seeking volunteers and you respond to a solicitation for said volunteers (or if you ask if they're looking for volunteers and they say they are).

So it's tough to tell what happened here. Did the downgrade cause an oversell, hence the rebook? Or was the redcoat looking for F space and simply accommodated? We really don't know, and frankly, I wouldn't care. So long as the OP gets compensated reasonably.

icydog

Because he was in Newark where nobody cares what happens to you as long as the aircraft leaves the gate!!!

clbfly

Yes, this seems to be a general, crappy policy. UA metal did this to me recently from Economy Plus down to Economy due to a plane change. Why, I asked, were three of us sent down to E rather the rebooked in E+. I was told that there was someone else in one of three E+ seats. I suggested that they switch his seat (move one person rather than three), but that did not fly.

Continited

Hi Everyone, just an update...

I called the elite line to give them my report and they "guaranteed" a call back within 24 hours... 48 hours have now gone by, and nada.

Also, I was given Jeff Smisek's email... this seems too easy, does he really read complaints sent directly from customers or does this just bounce to Customer Service? I asked the phone agent and she said I'd get a personal response from the big man himself, but this still seems strange...

EddieG

I have never had a bad experience using the voucher, matter of fact I just used one with no issues. I am not sure why you had bad experiences in the past.

IMO the CS handled it poorly and they should of downgraded someone, actually that has happened to me and I received generous compensation.

GoingAway

Even if he doesn't read them himself, he would have a response team tasked to responding to the complaints that hit the executive office. It is definitely worth the email.

FLDave

First let me tell you that the situation you experienced is totally unacceptable and I hate this "Just deal with Customer Service when you get home" attitude, which is becoming increasingly common these days.

I hate to be the bearer of potentially bad news but something like this happened to me before, although, i made a voluntary change on an int'l "Z" fare and accepted the "Y" seat on the domestic portion (so I wouldn't have to sit in EWR for 5 1/2 hours.

I'm sure you can imagine what the GA told me, yep, "Call Customer Service when you get home"...well I did just that and was told the following..

Your "Z" fare, which is a discounted business class ticket was purchased at $2163.50, however the full "Y" fare for the route was $4542.50..so therefore, there is no refund due.

For a just a split second, I thought they were going to tell me because I made a voluntary change, I was going to have to pay the difference of $2,379. LOL, can you imagine?? That would definitely be a change Jeff would like!

Not sure if this will apply in your case based on what you paid for your "Z" fare, but just wanted to avoid further disappointment, if they tell you the $500 voucher is all you are going to get. However, the way you were treated definitely deserves something in addition.

Let us know when you receive resolution.

zigenbock

You can say that again!!! I was travelling back from Aruba to IAH via EWR a few years ago. Our plane was late getting into EWR and I only had about 10 mins to run to my new gate. Of course they were finished boarding and the gate agent yelled at me and said that I should have been there 30 mins prior?????

Xyzzy

Y/B/M-up tickets are really cach fares for coach tickets that come with the possibility (sometimes instantly available) of an upgrade. If something happens to cause the upgrade to be lost, Y/B/M pax will likely be told that they bought a coach seat. Downgrade compensation may be offered depending on the exact circumstances. In this case, a Z ticket was purchased and downgrade compensation is definitely to be expected.

mduell

This is unreasonable since the Z fare you had was not nearly as flexible as the Y fare they were trying to compare to.

It would be reasonable to pro-rate the refund based on the ratio of the Y and J fares. If say Y is 60% of J, refund 40% of your Z when you're bumped down.

Xyzzy

That's just plain wrong. Call back and ask again. If you get the same reaction ask the agent to lk in the CO system at the text of GG OVS DOWNGRADE. More details on this, and some links, are available here.

Narendra

Kinda strange about the voucher issue...over the past 2 years, Ive had one 500 dollar and one 250 dollar voucher...both I used with no restrictions...in fact the 500 dollar one, I got to use it twice because my tickets came out to about 250 a pop...

channa

Take the refund now. Next year, it might be a different story. Taking a refund on a downgrade might require that you relinquish your status in the revenue-based program. @:-)