Involuntary Downgrade
Aug 3, 2008, 6:28 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, SN Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, BA, QF, AF
Posts: 6,856
Not sure this is entirely correct. Had the misconnect been not due to weather but due to, say, staff shortage, the EU regulation would apply. This regulation makes it clear that compensation for a downgrade has to be paid on award tickets too.
Aug 3, 2008, 11:25 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
1. Misconnect is misconnect. Airline is obligated to re-route the passenger according to their contract of carriage and applicable laws and regulations - subject to availability of seats.
2. Downgrade: again, you need to realize that you need to distinguish between:
Part 1) which is the difference in fares. Paid ticket -> cash back; Mileage ticket -> mileage back; Upgraded ticket -> upgrade intrument back. This applies in any event if the passenger is flying in a lower cabin than originally ticketed.
Part 2) which is additional downgrade compensation, either presented voluntarily by the airline or because there are local laws/regulations giving the passenger rights to additional compensation. Pre-requisite is always that the passenger had been confirmed in the higher class of service on the flight where the downgrade to the lower class of service occurs.
Again, in the OPs case, the passenger was never confirmed in the higher class of service on the flight the downgrade took place. Hence, the passenger is only due the difference in fare or miles or the upgrade instrument back. The EU passenger rights certainly don't grant any right to compensation if the passenger was never confirmed in F on the particular flight. The sole aspect of the EU passenger rights that would apply is the right for proper care (drinks, food, and hotel if applicable).
Aug 4, 2008, 12:43 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,312
..So, for example, evenif the pax is booked in O or I class, the agent can rebook into F or C class respectively when accommodating on OA..
.Oh wait .. the real limbo would be the OA forum, right
.
Aug 4, 2008, 1:06 pm
#34
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
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Posts: 12,025
Aug 6, 2008, 9:05 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,312
LH has no control over the award space SQ frees ... nor do the SQ employees. And that might have been the restriction the OP was facing.
Aug 6, 2008, 9:08 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
That is because you were rebooked into what ever fare class was available on other flights. More often that not, they will have to rebook you in a mile earning fare class which is why you got miles. This is the only advantage to IDB or VDB situations.