- Transportation in a lower class than booked?
- Refund not received within 7 days?
- Have to pay for an upgrade?
What is a downgrade in air traffic?
A so-called "downgrade " is the transfer of a passenger to a lower class of carriage than the one for which the ticket was purchased.
This often means a seat in Economy Class instead of Business Class.
What are passengers entitled to in the event of a downgrade?
In such a case, the airline is obliged to refund part of the flight price within seven days. The amount of the refund depends on the direct flight distance of the route on which you were affected by the downgrading:
- all flights up to 1,500 km: 30 percent of the ticket price
- Flights within the EU from 1,500 km: 50 percent of the ticket price
- Flights from 1,500 km to 3,500 km (not within the EU): 50 percent of the ticket price
- Flights over 3500 km (not within the EU): 75 percent of the ticket price
Please note: Only the price of the flight itself, excluding the taxes and fees shown on the ticket, is to be taken into account for the refund.
§ The legal basis is Article 10 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
What is an upgrade in air travel?
A so-called "upgrade " is the opposite of a downgrade: passengers are moved to a higher class of carriage.
Are surcharges allowed for upgrades?
If the airline transfers someone to a higher class of carriage, it may not charge a surcharge for this.
§ The legal basis is Article 10 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
Musterbrief: Herabstufung
Sample Letter: Downgrade
Regulation (EU) 261/2004
