What’s the deal with my involuntary downgrade?

Cynicor

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I booked a va flight a few months ago on award points in business, Mel-per at 20:50 or something.

Didn’t hear anything more about it but at least partly my fault for a typo in the phone number section.

Anyway, in farming the bookings last night to check seats etc it says economy and to contact them. Looks like a 10 min time change but nothing else to explain it.

On calling today they said the original flight was cancelled and” there were no business seats on the flight. Would I like to change times?” Can’t do, timing is important for these ones, but I do note seats are for sale in the flight in business still.

“Oh yes, let me book those”. So now it’s all back to normal and on the same flight. Only a timing change, no flight number change etc.

Any idea around this? Do you think the flight is being sold when it won’t run and we’ll need to move anyway?

There are no other business occupants so far from what I can see of seat map and tickets for sale
 
I booked a va flight a few months ago on award points in business, Mel-per at 20:50 or something.

Didn’t hear anything more about it but at least partly my fault for a typo in the phone number section.

Anyway, in farming the bookings last night to check seats etc it says economy and to contact them. Looks like a 10 min time change but nothing else to explain it.

On calling today they said the original flight was cancelled and” there were no business seats on the flight. Would I like to change times?” Can’t do, timing is important for these ones, but I do note seats are for sale in the flight in business still.

“Oh yes, let me book those”. So now it’s all back to normal and on the same flight. Only a timing change, no flight number change etc.

Any idea around this? Do you think the flight is being sold when it won’t run and we’ll need to move anyway?

There are no other business occupants so far from what I can see of seat map and tickets for sale
There's a 100m + reasons why this would be unlikely. Sounds like there was an error when processing the changes and all tix were reissued as Y. In the current hacked accounts times, I'd be more concerned about the typo in your phone number. Such detail is stored or at least autofilled. The CSM's gaslighting isn't pleasant either.
 
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I wonder if at some point there was an aircraft change to an all economy aircraft and then they've changed back to an aircraft with business?
I reckon this. I received two emails for my VA flights this week, both booked in Y on 737s, advising they were now operated by a Fokker (the one that says prepare yourself for the antique Alliance plane with no food/booze service, WiFi, or IFE all for the same price as a mainline service 😒). But they were still both 737 flights on the day. Wasn't in J though and no time changes but def something funny going on in the background.
 
I reckon this. I received two emails for my VA flights this week, both booked in Y on 737s, advising they were now operated by a Fokker
Are you able to share a flight number for these (or even what route is was)? It's possible that they should have been switched but due to the problems with QQ fleet were switched back.
 
Yes TSV would make sense. They do switch between 737s and F100/70s on this route. It's also possible that it once was a QQ and then switched to a 737 but they didn't remove the QQ operated correctly hence the automated QQ email gets sent out.
Hi Henrus, perhaps you can shed some light on this one: my SIL was supposed to fly on VA375 today and at the airport was told it was cancelled and she has been moved to a later flight. Yet flightradar shows a QQ F70 operating VA375, currently in the air over Yeppoon. Did they lie to my SIL about the cancellation and the flight did go ahead? Or perhaps a 737 or F100 swap to a smaller F70 and some people got bumped? Still poor form to use the term cancelled if that's the case.
 
perhaps you can shed some light on this one: my SIL was supposed to fly on VA375 today and at the airport was told it was cancelled and she has been moved to a later flight
I don't work for VA but it does appear VA375 operated as scheduled but was downgraded from an F100 to an F70 (meaning a loss of 20 seats). The F100 reliability has been terrible lately.

That being said as it does appear it did get downgraded and they if they were moved off it because of the downgrade and placed on VA383 which is the next flight at 7:55pm then under section 5 of the guest compensation policy they should have been entitled to food and compensation as a travel credit (no clue what this amount is).

 
I don't work for VA but it does appear VA375 operated as scheduled but was downgraded from an F100 to an F70 (meaning a loss of 20 seats). The F100 reliability has been terrible lately.

That being said as it does appear it did get downgraded and they if they were moved off it because of the downgrade and placed on VA383 which is the next flight at 7:55pm then under section 5 of the guest compensation policy they should have been entitled to food and compensation as a travel credit (no clue what this amount is).

Thanks Henrus, apparently they weren't offered anything. Should have at least got some food vouchers. SIL didn't want to make a fuss but had to entertain 2 youngsters for 5 hours and had no lounge access without my brother travelling with her. Guess they bump the non status low value pax?
 
Thanks Henrus, apparently they weren't offered anything. Should have at least got some food vouchers. SIL didn't want to make a fuss but had to entertain 2 youngsters for 5 hours and had no lounge access without my brother travelling with her.
I'd get them to fill out the form on the VA website. Don't get emotional but just say they believe they were denied boarding due to an aircraft downgrade, as a result based on the guest compensation policy should have received food vouchers and also as compensation some travel credits. As I said I've got no idea the amount offered so if they do get an answer do report back as I'm curious.

They won't get a response quickly but will at least get an answer.

Guess they bump the non status low value pax?
Most airlines operate this way.
 
I'd get them to fill out the form on the VA website. Don't get emotional but just say they believe they were denied boarding due to an aircraft downgrade, as a result based on the guest compensation policy should have received food vouchers and also as compensation some travel credits. As I said I've got no idea the amount offered so if they do get an answer do report back as I'm curious.

They won't get a response quickly but will at least get an answer.


Most airlines operate this way.
Further to this, I would actually state a $$ amount in the email… for example, $35 to cover food and beverages for 1 adult and 2 children.
 

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