What to do if you get downgraded on a flight

When flying long-haul, lots of us are quietly rooting for a spontaneous upgrade.

But being downgraded happens more than you think — a premium economy, business-class or first-class ticket may sometimes get bumped to a lower class.

It can be especially disappointing if you’ve paid for an expensive ticket for a long-haul or transatlantic flight for extra comfort, and were expecting more legroom and a good night’s sleep.

You may get downgraded for several reasons, such as a broken seat, the airline overbooking a flight, or a last-minute change of aircraft.

Overbooking is a money-making strategy where airlines will sell more tickets than seats on aircraft to ensure that if a passenger misses their flight or cancels, the flight remains full.

But when everyone does show up, downgrades will need to be made in certain areas of the plane.

Below, find a guide for the steps you should take when your seat gets downgraded.

Make the decision

For domestic flights and international departures on U.S. airlines, you would be covered by Department of Transportation rules that give you two options when you are downgraded. You can either cancel the flight and get a full refund, which isn’t ideal if it’s a last-minute change and you are already at the airport, or you can take the downgrade and get a refund of the difference between the original fare and what it calls the downgraded fare.

The decision is yours, but most people will go for the second option because downgrades are usually last-minute and most people will not postpone trips due to the inconvenience.

Know your rights

If you choose the second option and accept the downgrade and compensation, passengers should know their rights so that they can act accordingly when they’re making their compensation claim, Anton Radchenko, CEO at AirAdvisor, told CNN Travel.

Radchenko, who has been downgraded twice, told the outlet that he received a $1,000 refund when he was downgraded from premium economy on a flight from New York to Frankfurt.

Refunds for involuntary downgrades can be tricky due to airlines using dynamic pricing on seats, meaning that the cost can fluctuate depending on interest.

To make things more confusing, your rights depend on what airline you’re flying and where, so check the policy of your respective airline online.

Cite DOT rules

If in doubt, customers should cite DOT rules when making their case, airline consumer advocate William McGee told the Wall Street Journal.

Because the rules surrounding downgrade fares and policies vary between airlines, DOT rules are some of the most concrete things to bring up when you’re dealing with an airline.

“You have to make noise with the airline and say, ‘Look, you did not give me what I paid for,’” he told the outlet.

Document everything

Radchenko recommended documenting everything, including a written reason for the downgrade and a photo of your new seat, boarding pass and any communication you have with the airline to have as evidence when making a compensation claim.

Passengers should make sure the fare difference is calculated according to pricing at the time of booking; otherwise, airlines may use the lowest price as a way of paying less compensation.

“You need to be proactive and stand your ground. Stay polite but firm on your demands,” Radchenko said.