Purchased Business on 787-8 and got an A320 instead! Refund?
Jun 19, 2019, 4:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Purchased Business on 787-8 and got an A320 instead! Refund?
I was booked on YEG-YYZ-LGA starting just after midnight MDT and arriving in NYC at 9am EDT.
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
However, the YEG-YYZ leg was delayed to a 2am departure, arriving in Toronto at something ridiculous like 7:55am, meaning I would miss my 8am flight out to LGA. I called up Altitude VIP 75k and had them move me to an earlier flight so I could make my connection.
They did the change and then as I board, I realize, oh god, it's an A320. The business class was so uncomfortable compared to what I would have had on the 787-8.
Has anyone ever received a credit or partial refund for this kind of switch? It just seems bogus. I wouldn't have bothered paying for the business upgrade for the first leg if it was an A320.
Any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
However, the YEG-YYZ leg was delayed to a 2am departure, arriving in Toronto at something ridiculous like 7:55am, meaning I would miss my 8am flight out to LGA. I called up Altitude VIP 75k and had them move me to an earlier flight so I could make my connection.
They did the change and then as I board, I realize, oh god, it's an A320. The business class was so uncomfortable compared to what I would have had on the 787-8.
Has anyone ever received a credit or partial refund for this kind of switch? It just seems bogus. I wouldn't have bothered paying for the business upgrade for the first leg if it was an A320.
Any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated
Jun 19, 2019, 5:22 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: YVR TLS
Programs: Air France Flying Blue, Altitude SE-100k, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, WS rewards, BonVoy Titan
Posts: 912
I was booked on YEG-YYZ-LGA starting just after midnight MDT and arriving in NYC at 9am EDT.
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
However, the YEG-YYZ leg was delayed to a 2am departure, arriving in Toronto at something ridiculous like 7:55am, meaning I would miss my 8am flight out to LGA. I called up Altitude VIP 75k and had them move me to an earlier flight so I could make my connection.
They did the change and then as I board, I realize, oh god, it's an A320. The business class was so uncomfortable compared to what I would have had on the 787-8.
Has anyone ever received a credit or partial refund for this kind of switch? It just seems bogus. I wouldn't have bothered paying for the business upgrade for the first leg if it was an A320.
Any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
However, the YEG-YYZ leg was delayed to a 2am departure, arriving in Toronto at something ridiculous like 7:55am, meaning I would miss my 8am flight out to LGA. I called up Altitude VIP 75k and had them move me to an earlier flight so I could make my connection.
They did the change and then as I board, I realize, oh god, it's an A320. The business class was so uncomfortable compared to what I would have had on the 787-8.
Has anyone ever received a credit or partial refund for this kind of switch? It just seems bogus. I wouldn't have bothered paying for the business upgrade for the first leg if it was an A320.
Any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated
I understand it was a major let down, especially when you were expecting the lie-flat...
Jun 19, 2019, 5:38 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: YVR TLS
Programs: Air France Flying Blue, Altitude SE-100k, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, WS rewards, BonVoy Titan
Posts: 912
Jun 19, 2019, 8:41 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
I was booked on YEG-YYZ-LGA starting just after midnight MDT and arriving in NYC at 9am EDT.
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
I had a business seat purchased on a 787-8 for the YEG-YYZ leg, so I could get some proper sleep. The 787-8 has nice business class seats that can let you get some good rest. The YYZ-LGA leg I just stayed with Econ since it's an hour flight from 8am-9am so really, who cares.
Jun 19, 2019, 8:44 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
After reading OP quote, I don’t think he was actual on the J class ticket. If he was, the second leg would also be in J. Sounds more of a LMU to me. Therefor, he should not expect anything.
Jun 19, 2019, 9:10 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
On a paid J-cabin ticket for travel within NA there is an approximately $300 surcharge for signature class over regular business class. In the event of a downgrade to regular business a refund would be due.
This surcharge is not applicable on award tickets or upgrades (LMU, eUpgrade, etc.). In such cases (which this appears to be as pointed out by 5mm) no refund is due. A complaint to AC may result in some goodwill compensation, but that’s about it... The fact that a voluntary change was made to another flight probably doesn’t help OP as the flight he was originally booked on wasn’t downgraded and the flight he switched to was likely scheduled as a 320 at the time of the change.
This surcharge is not applicable on award tickets or upgrades (LMU, eUpgrade, etc.). In such cases (which this appears to be as pointed out by 5mm) no refund is due. A complaint to AC may result in some goodwill compensation, but that’s about it... The fact that a voluntary change was made to another flight probably doesn’t help OP as the flight he was originally booked on wasn’t downgraded and the flight he switched to was likely scheduled as a 320 at the time of the change.
Jun 19, 2019, 9:13 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
Jun 19, 2019, 9:37 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
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Posts: 1,881
Jun 19, 2019, 9:41 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
OP's wording is quite confusing actually. But yes., my thought was that since he requested the change, he might well be out of luck even if this was purchased J. Which by his wording may not have been the case, either eupgrade or paid upgrade.
Jun 19, 2019, 10:05 am
#11
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But as others said, there's nothing technically due because it was voluntary and the surcharge was never charged.
I'm sure something could be obtained as a goodwill gesture, but I don't know what you really expect after flying in the upgraded cabin.
Jun 19, 2019, 10:38 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
I don't think he was using upgrades because it's the same amount of point for YEG -Yyz as Yeg-yyz-lga. therefor he would have been in J for his second leg
Jun 19, 2019, 10:40 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Posts: 5,691
Same amount of credits to upgrade both segments, yes, but OP would still have to specifically request the upgrade through the eUpgrade portal or during check-in. It’s certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that OP used eUps for the first segment only.
Jun 19, 2019, 10:55 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,995
Entitled? Yes.
To any sort of compensation? Not on your life. OP requested the change and got what he/she asked for. End of story.
To any sort of compensation? Not on your life. OP requested the change and got what he/she asked for. End of story.
Last edited by Symmetre; Jun 19, 2019 at 11:03 am
Jun 19, 2019, 10:59 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I mean on the plus side, 320s don't have deflated seats. So it's entirely possible the OP got lucky.
I mean in an ideal world, res would have warned him that it was a different aircraft. But I don't think more than 0.001% of AC res would even think of that (unlike 99% of AC FT).
And the OP could have flown the 787 and then either rung up or waited to be moved onto / SDC for a later flight YYZ LGA isn't not like there is any shortage (of scheduled flights anyway). This of course supposes the OP didn't have plans and a need to be in LGA by a set time.
Either way, I suspect this would yield a 5-10% off base fare only voucher.
I mean in an ideal world, res would have warned him that it was a different aircraft. But I don't think more than 0.001% of AC res would even think of that (unlike 99% of AC FT).
And the OP could have flown the 787 and then either rung up or waited to be moved onto / SDC for a later flight YYZ LGA isn't not like there is any shortage (of scheduled flights anyway). This of course supposes the OP didn't have plans and a need to be in LGA by a set time.
Either way, I suspect this would yield a 5-10% off base fare only voucher.