Reply To: Amex 241 flight downgraded from Club World to WTP at check-in

[marks7389]

Alex G wrote:

Disgusting behaviour by BA. What is the point of paying for the Amex BAPP card and collecting Avios if BA are deliberately overbooking popular flights and picking on redemptions as the first to be downgraded?

To be fair to BA, in @Grandad81’s case, the aircraft was switched from a Heathrow based 777 with 48 Club Suites to a Gatwick based 777 with 32 Club World Sleeper Seats, presumably due to a lack of serviceable Heathrow based aircraft. Whilst overbooking happens, this is an exception case and, on the plus side, at least an aircraft was available to operate the flight.

It’s also unclear whether companion vouchers are particularly targeted for downgrade. It has long been a subject of debate, but as someone who has probably redeemed 20+ for round trips in CW/First over the years (often with no status), we have never been downgraded.

The reality is that it doesn’t happen as often as you might think from forum reports as no-one ever talks about not having been downgraded.

The real issue is the fact that BA doesn’t advise people of their rights and tries to get away with paying less than they are entitled to when it does happen. That is why it is really important to push for what is due in these cases, including the principle (as per several CEDR rulings) that 75% of the full Avios is to be refunded even where a voucher has been used in lieu of half of them.