SK98

I was having the same issue and they rebooked me on Qatar Airways with QSuites on the DOH-CGK v.v. segments . Doesn't feel like a downgrade at all! Due to Flying Blue rules I will still get the sky team miles and xp of my original ticket

atflyer

Thanks SK98, that all sounds very promising. I guess if I can get TK under these conditions I will do this. QSuites is quite a notch better as the A330 TK flies from IST-BKK, but that is a 9:40 flight where QR is well below 7.

atflyer

From the FB rules - assuming we talk about unforeseen circumstances original route credit likely applies:

2.5: In case of flight cancellations, by Air France, KLM, other SkyTeam Partners and, or other Airline Partners, caused by, including but not limited to, weather conditions, labour disputes, government directives, schedules changes or security reasons, the Member will not earn Miles and, or gain XP
2.7 ....In the event of a transfer onto an alternative flight due to circumstances unforeseen (and not caused by the Member) the Member will gain XP and earn Miles for the flight originally purchased, and not for the route flown. Miles are earned on services and, or extra options only if personally utilised by the Member. The Member’s account can be credited only once for each flight flown and can be credited only once for each service used...
.
https://www.flyingblue.com/kamino/policies/en/us

Jaegersss

Just called the call centre and I was also rebooked to QR
They also told me, it is possible to change the origin to any other North African airport with SV, but not possible to make a change to an European airport.

atflyer

Well, you guys all seem lucky. I called today in the afternoon first the French, then the German and then the Saudi helpdesks (where I was rerouted 3 times) but none of the people I spoke to had the authority to rebook, and they all referred to their number in SA (+966 920022222). I was told in the end to submit a form (technical form) on their website and that is not going through as we speak. Maybe I just have one of these bad days. But then in all honesty, my ticket was really super-cheap (1000 Euro), although I noted that returns TUN-CGK or TUN-KUL were just maybe a few 100 Euro more expensive. Maybe that is the reason for the difference in experience?

atflyer

PS the FB chat confirmed you can claim original routing XP and miles in this case.

Jaegersss

Did you buy the ticket from a travel agency?

atflyer

No, directly from the SV website, that is not it. I would be interested to understand if your tickets also were in the 1000-1200 Euro range or much more expensive, which would be an explanation too. When I booked, tickets from Cairo or Morocco were markedly more expensive as those starting in Tunis. And I would not exclude a mistake from the SV side that they priced Tunis tickets already low due to the expected equipment change but forgot to adjust the seat plan or so.

Jaegersss

Mine was bit less than 1k, class I

atflyer

Thanks for the info. Same with me in terms of pricing and same class (I). I probably have no option but to try HUCA (Hang Up, Call Again) till I find someone who is authorised. At least the other cases show they are totally similar as mine and give a precedent for a good outcome.

f0zzyNUE

maybe the agents don't understand that the reason for the rebooking is that you have been INVOLUNTARY (that's the magic word) downgraded. Common mistake with call center agents. As soon as the involuntary flag is set the booking can be modified with much fewer restrictions.
Another problem could be that you could already and accidentally have accepted the change on the website. In case you have agreed to the change they might not be able to put you back in a business cabin.

atflyer

I explained the involuntary part a few times and they got it, but the people I spoke to were not authorised. The last agent said in so many words that indeed a refund or a rerouting would be the options but that he could not re-route. The SA +966 number has a dramatic complex choice menu, once I tried the 'complaint' route, but since I tried in the afternoon that was after Saudi working times and it stopped there. It could be the department you people reached and is authorised to do such changes was closed when I called.

And no, I haven't accepted the change on their website. I did receive an email of a change from I -> T class and a seat change on Monday but that was fully one-sided from them out, I guess this is what all happened to us. New tries today....will report back.

f0zzyNUE

good luck - but take into account that in Saudi Arabia Friday is thei holy day/free day of the week - "our Sunday"

atflyer

Yeah....I know Friday is difficult. Worst case next week. Flight is only end April so there is in that sense time.

irishguy28

I'd be very interested to hear how Flying Blue would actually respond to such an ORC request, regardless of what a chat agent may have said...