I was happily seated in Business Class 6J on a Paris to New York flight. (PS it is boringly old aged but I get on the plane, as soon as the cabin is called). The purser greeted everyone cordially, offering a glass of bubbly with juice for the flying sober. A shock: another lady approached with her boarding pass showing 6J.
An official from Air France, the airline partner in Paris, boarded and asked to see my boarding pass. My iPhone had a screen shot showing 6J. He insisted I move. The purser (ie cabin boss) confirmed he had Stoller in 6J, but was not going to get too involved. Truthfully, I was hysterical inside; cool outside and calmly stayed in the seat. After a kerfuffle, the lady accepted a seat a few rows behind.
Sometimes an aircraft is changed and seats moved. If it is in the same cabin, you have little to say. If you are downgraded, you can ask for compensation. Rules are vague; compensation for downgrading amount vary airline to airline. Basically if you checked in on time and boarded on time, you should get compensation. If there are other flights leaving shortly with a seat in your cabin, you can ask to be transferred. This is only good if you have carry on luggage.
In this situation even the smartest of us cannot pull out official DOT rules. We simmer, worry, and angst.
A few ideas worth considering:
Get on early.
Do not move if you are in the right. Do not even stand up.
Collect all details, purser name, airline personnel name (even if from a foreign airline). Photo of the cabin time stamped when you sat down. Anything that demonstrates you are legitimately maltreated.
Check your luggage! If you agree to change planes the airline now has to go into the hold, and find your luggage, possibly delaying departure. (Except for a few exceptions, checked luggage must be accompanied by the passenger under the PPMB regulations).
You can ask to be put on another airline in your class of cabin, minuscule possibility but ask.
My new and ‘upgraded upset passenger system’: keep a screen shot of the boarding pass, another of the seating chart showing your seat. All done same day time stamped by a smart phone. Double booking of a seat might never happened to me again. But amateur hour is over and I am prepared.
Travel tips from award winning tour operator: The Women’s Travel Group. Our tours are mainly international; rules change overseas, compensation still usually applies.
