Being downgraded on an airline
Upvote:7
Flights are routinely overbooked, but more commonly in coach than business (or first). When airlines find that more confirmed and ticketed passengers have shown up than they have seats for, they will try to "roll the cabins" to make seats available (move people from business to first to free seats in business, move people from premium economy to business to free seats in premium economy, etc.) As a last resort, they will downgrade people or "bump" them (deny boarding). In general, but especially for major airlines such as BA, they have a defined order in which to downgrade or bump passengers (just as they have a defined order for upgrading people to free a seat in a lower cabin). They will generally start with those who are not members or have no status in their frequent-flyer program (Executive Club) or those of partners (OneWorld), and among them, start with those who checked in last.
In your case, I suspect that the reason you couldn't check in online is because your cabin was oversold and they couldn't assign you a seat (rather than the other way around, as you suggest in your question).
Did BA compensate you for being downgraded? They should have offered to fly you on an alternative flight in business or first, or on an alternate carrier. In addition, they should have offered you a refund for the fare difference between the classes (in either cash or points, whichever was used to pay for your ticket) and thrown in a bunch of points for the inconvenience.
Upvote:7
In this specific case, BA does not care about seat assignments when editing the flight for upgrades or downgrades. There is a computer system that goes through and selects passengers for downgrades or upgrades. If you had a seat, you would simply have lost it. Whether you are checked in is important, the earlier you are checked in, the more likely you will be either to get an upgrade or to avoid a downgrade.
You are entitled to EC 261/2004 compensation, which is something like 75% of the ticket price depending on the details.
More post
- 📝 Why do flights sometimes share the same flight numbers?
- 📝 Re-entering US on B-2 visa after leaving over Mexican border without stamp
- 📝 Can I leave USA as a US citizen prior to end of 2-week quarantine after arrival
- 📝 Why SOME Israeli groups are so impolite and what to do?
- 📝 How to fill questions 25, 29 and 30 for Multi entry Schengen visa form
- 📝 Can I enter Italy with a receipt issued by an Italian post office for a residence permit application?
- 📝 What countries does a Calafia Airlines flight from Mexico to Brazil pass through?
- 📝 Can I change my flight dates after I get my Schengen visa?
- 📝 Do I need a visa for the UK with a visa type D from Spain?
- 📝 Are there websites that offer last-minute accommodation deals in Australia?
- 📝 Do I need a visa to leave the Amsterdam airport enroute to Norway from US?
- 📝 Entering Thailand on a Visa Waiver when one has a single-entry visa
- 📝 Why don't hotels mount air conditioning units outside the rooms?
- 📝 Question about filling US Customs Declaration Form
- 📝 Help with Australian ETA app in Japan
- 📝 How to reduce anxiety about travelling using airplanes?
- 📝 Checked baggage tag-through service via several airlines (ORD, PVG, BKK)
- 📝 What are the true hours Gila National Forest is open?
- 📝 Name discrepencies between passports
- 📝 Permanent address is old on my passport, what should be filled in the UK visa application form?
- 📝 Connecting to the Delhi airport Wi-Fi with one U.S. phone number
- 📝 Airline anticipated leg of return flight, then has been beating around the bush about the refund for 4 months
- 📝 My passport will expire a few months after I start travelling - problem?
- 📝 Lie-flat seats on AA 777-200
- 📝 First entry to Italy on a Schengen visa issued by Greece
- 📝 Fastest public transport from Vienna airport into city center?
- 📝 Short stay visa to Romania
- 📝 Which steps happen before you fly internationally (check-in / boarding)?
- 📝 What visa do I need to travel to the United States (Texas)
- 📝 See nature and wildlife in China, avoid crowds
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Being downgraded on an airline
- 📝 Who is responsible for a passenger being cancelled from a flight because an international partner airline never confirmed with the domestic airline?
- 📝 Being a tourist, can I film police in the US?
- 📝 What should I do about being issued the wrong fiji visa?
- 📝 Canada Low Cost Airline
- 📝 Is it possible to get an airline to compensate lost incidental costs?
- 📝 Airline ticket for an Australian domestic flight as a gift without knowing the dates
- 📝 UK visa refused because I failed to provide satisfactory evidence of being a student. What are my options?
- 📝 How can I avoid being instructed to open the baggage at customs?
- 📝 How to pay when booking airline tickets by calling?
- 📝 Airline ticket reservation, spaces removed from lastname
- 📝 Can I "park" the value of a non-refundable airline ticket?
- 📝 What to do if an EU airline cancels your ticket without notifying you?
- 📝 Transit in Beijing on separate airline tickets
- 📝 How to obtain a Schengen visa after being denied entry to Germany with a visa issued by Spain?
- 📝 Which countries DO NOT have airports or airline services
- 📝 How to interpret airline PNR printouts
- 📝 Is there a way to get airline prices from the past?
- 📝 How should I respond to questions asked before being allowed to enter the United States?
- 📝 Are there any airline companies in Europe that make discounts if you buy flights in batch?
- 📝 Re-entry Belgium in case of Belgium Residence Permit being stolen in London
- 📝 Would a domestic airline send a delayed luggage abroad?
- 📝 What is the EU 261/2004 appeals process when an airline denies claim?
- 📝 Is there any printer at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) that airline passengers can use?
- 📝 Is it possible to get vaccinated while being in Belgium as a foreign student?
- 📝 C1/D (Merchant Marine) Visa Holder Entry in the US: Being selected for Secondary Screening & interview
- 📝 Best time to buy Airline tickets to Shanghai/Hong Kong from USA (Dallas/Fort Worth)?
- 📝 Will she be able to fit in the Philippine Airline Boeing 777-300er seat comfortably?
- 📝 What is "Confirmed Airline Reservation"?
- 📝 What is the meaning of "Marine Fares" regarding airline baggage?
