Was bound to happen eventually, but after buying RTW tickets for 5+ years finally got my first downgrade on SA flying GRU-JNB yesterday... Checked in online right when online check-in opened.. sequence number 1.. however, when I got to the airport, was informed that there was an aircraft change and that the plane has a lot less business class seats than people booked in business.. Since I was one of the last to arrive at the airport (1.5 hours before departure time), I was bumped down to economy.. no amount of complaining, pleading, etc could change their minds. It was either in Y or fly the next day. So ended up near the very back of the aircraft.. good thing was that they blocked the 2 seats next to me, so I got a row to myself...

Anyways, wanted to see if I can get any compensation from SA about this.. I know they wont refund anything to me coz of the RTW ticket, but anyone had similar experience and gotten some sort of compensation? What really irks me is that I was sequence number 1 through online check-in.. They should have bumped someone else that was either on a mileage ticket, upgrade ticket or a star alliance silver/no status person...

It seems odd that a passenger with a REVENUE ticket is downgraded in this way.. good luck in getting compensation

You are absolutely entitled to compensation; the question is how much compensation.

This falls under the rules of SA's terms and conditions:
Unfortunately, I found nothing in the terms and conditions that talked about how much compensation is involved for an involuntary downgrade. (The T&Cs go on to talk only about "If we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, fail to stop at your destination or Stopover, or cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a reservation...")

Because you had already begun your trip, I do not believe that it matters whether you were holding a RTW ticket, a full fare ticket, or a FF award ticket. I believe that they owe you the difference between full-fare Y and full-fare C. According to EF, full-fare C is ZAR 21540, full-fare Y is 10950, so I believe you have a right to claim ZAR 10590 (or about US$1325).

Thanks Widerman! Well, I talked to my TA about this and they will follow up with SA on this.. hopefully I'll get something out of it!

I'd shoot for $1k on this one or any other reasonable offer involving vouchers for free flights.
I bet you there were non-revs and others flying up front ... basing invol. downgrades in 'who arrives last' is not acceptable.

"I know they wont refund anything to me coz of the RTW ticket, but anyone had similar experience and gotten some sort of compensation? "

i always thought there would be no compensation for downgrading when using RTW tickets.
however, 3 weeks ago when checking in for NRT-BKK on a *A FRTW i was told by TG staff that there was a change of aircraft type and there would be no first class.
before i even had the time to give them names ,
they handed me an envelope with Yen 30.000.- (about USD 280.-) and i was escorted through security to the first class lounge.

fair enough, right?

If you are satisfied with that compensation, then fine.

However, you paid for a first-class seat/service, you had confirmed reservations for a F seat/service, and you were involuntarily downgraded. It's my belief that you were entitled to the difference between full-fare C (JPY296,200) and full-fare F (JPY465,300).

Please do not confuse the involuntary downgrade (downgraded on the day of flight, when you have confirmed space) with making a reservation on a flight that does not offer the class of service that matches your RTW ticket. In the latter case, the RTW ticket rules state that you will use the next lower class of service (except in N Am). But that rule does not apply and has no bearing when you are involuntarily downgraded after receiving confirmed space in the COS of your RTW.