Plane Change
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: CO-Plat, SPG-Gold, Hilton-Gold, Hertz-5 Star
Posts: 83
Plane Change
I specifically choose to take a 10:55 flight out of IAH to EWR to ride on the 767. I was willing and did pay more for the flight than other options available on other types of planes. I also choose to pay extra for a first class ticket. When I got to the gate, I was told that the 767 had been exchanged for a 757. Thus, no footrests, no multiple movie choices, no in-flight games, and no single seating. It seems wrong to me that Continental can change planes and take away perks of one type of plane without compensation. Am I totally off base here?
#2



Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
Originally Posted by eshep3
Am I totally off base here?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,686
Equipment changes are fairly par for the course.
CO sets the baseline for domestic service as Domestic F. Some aircraft happen to be a little nicer, but that's an 'over and above' -- not a different baseline.
Now, if CO sold a "premier" service -- using the BF seats -- and then swapped in a domestic 757, you'd have a point. No different than if they swapped in a domestic 757 for an international 757 flying EWR-SNN, for example (because in that case you would have paid for BF service, had a BF ticket, and not gotten the service).
Steve
CO sets the baseline for domestic service as Domestic F. Some aircraft happen to be a little nicer, but that's an 'over and above' -- not a different baseline.
Now, if CO sold a "premier" service -- using the BF seats -- and then swapped in a domestic 757, you'd have a point. No different than if they swapped in a domestic 757 for an international 757 flying EWR-SNN, for example (because in that case you would have paid for BF service, had a BF ticket, and not gotten the service).
Steve
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 253
Were you disappointed? Maybe. Do you want compensation? Now you are being ridiculous.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
While I full well appreciate your frustration I think you are a bit off base to expect some sort of compensation due to an equipment swap. CO fulfilled their contracted services....
Given that the seat counts between the 762s and 757s are almost identical in seats counts (757 24/159 and 762 25/149) this ends up being a common swap as it provides CO great flexibility in operational scheduling. Plus, consider the fact that there are only 10 762s in the fleet compared to 41 757s (both configurations reflected in this total).
Again, it agree that it sucked. Last year I was excited to have an EUA on my flight back from SFO on the 73G but got a rude awakening when I got onboard. They had a last minute swap on the inbound to a 733! Heck - I didnt think it even had the range to make it to CLE!
Given that the seat counts between the 762s and 757s are almost identical in seats counts (757 24/159 and 762 25/149) this ends up being a common swap as it provides CO great flexibility in operational scheduling. Plus, consider the fact that there are only 10 762s in the fleet compared to 41 757s (both configurations reflected in this total).
Again, it agree that it sucked. Last year I was excited to have an EUA on my flight back from SFO on the 73G but got a rude awakening when I got onboard. They had a last minute swap on the inbound to a 733! Heck - I didnt think it even had the range to make it to CLE!
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
you got what you paid for didnt you? a 1st class seat. since theres 1 less seat Im sure that someone that was Uped to 1st had to sit in the back and the good seats were probably gone back there as well by the time they found out that due to plane change they were downgraded, and even they dont have aleg to stand on.
Yea it bites but all within what CO or any other carrier is allowed to do. How about the times that the switch worked out in your favor did you offer to pay CO more for the seat, I didnt. Went from a 757 to a 777and was given the Up to Biz instead of being in the back.
had they downgraded you then I would assume they would have had to refund you some $$. If you were aFull fare passenger did you ask to change to a Y fare and get the difference if any refunded and sit in the back. Doesnt seem so, I doubt I would have done it.
Chalk it up to Stuff Happens
also I dont think CO charges more due to the type of A/C that will be used and the different entertainment etc that each A/C will have.
Yea it bites but all within what CO or any other carrier is allowed to do. How about the times that the switch worked out in your favor did you offer to pay CO more for the seat, I didnt. Went from a 757 to a 777and was given the Up to Biz instead of being in the back.
had they downgraded you then I would assume they would have had to refund you some $$. If you were aFull fare passenger did you ask to change to a Y fare and get the difference if any refunded and sit in the back. Doesnt seem so, I doubt I would have done it.
Chalk it up to Stuff Happens
also I dont think CO charges more due to the type of A/C that will be used and the different entertainment etc that each A/C will have.
Last edited by craz; Jul 8, 2005 at 2:52 pm
#7
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DAL
Programs: SWA A list preferred and CP, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz President's club
Posts: 9,803
Originally Posted by eshep3
I specifically choose to take a 10:55 flight out of IAH to EWR to ride on the 767. I was willing and did pay more for the flight than other options available on other types of planes. I also choose to pay extra for a first class ticket. When I got to the gate, I was told that the 767 had been exchanged for a 757. Thus, no footrests, no multiple movie choices, no in-flight games, and no single seating. It seems wrong to me that Continental can change planes and take away perks of one type of plane without compensation. Am I totally off base here?
Think of it this way. Possibly your 767 had a mechanical or was stuck somewhere based on weather. Would you have been happier to be stuck on the ground somewhere for god knows how long or them swap in the plane they had available to them. I personally would rather fly on a seagull than have no flight and not gotten where I needed to.
#8
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: EWR (Wayne Township, NJ) and PHX
Programs: CO OnePass Plat and SPG - Plat, Marriott Plat (don't use -it's a comp), AmericaWest CP
Posts: 4,810
Originally Posted by eshep3
I specifically choose to take a 10:55 flight out of IAH to EWR to ride on the 767. I was willing and did pay more for the flight than other options available on other types of planes. I also choose to pay extra for a first class ticket. When I got to the gate, I was told that the 767 had been exchanged for a 757. Thus, no footrests, no multiple movie choices, no in-flight games, and no single seating. It seems wrong to me that Continental can change planes and take away perks of one type of plane without compensation. Am I totally off base here?
You were paying to fly domestic first, you are in domestic first. They can change equipment as needed and when needed. Sorry you are WAY off base...
-Vincent
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,863
in domestic, all you pay for is up front or back, almost always this means normal domestic F service. Even on the 777 from IAH-EWR, the service is pretty ordinary domestic F. You get some extra choices of movies and much nicer seats, but schedule changes/equipment swaps are part of life flying.
If you really want to push it, and get a BF aircraft, find another flight that day that does and ask them (nicely) to switch you.
If you really want to push it, and get a BF aircraft, find another flight that day that does and ask them (nicely) to switch you.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Grand County, Colorado
Programs: IHG Plat, HH D, UA GS, Perm BonVoyed
Posts: 2,013
Compensation?
Yea, refund your ticket and buy one on tomorrows 767.
Equipment swaps occur all the time!

