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Imagine packing for your trip and looking forward to a comfortable premium economy seat you paid extra for, only to find you had been downgraded.
It’s the exact situation one holidaymaker, Marion McGilvary, found herself in – and she wasn’t even offered a refund from the airline.
She told The Times about her journey from New York back in August this year.
The passenger had booked her trip through British Airways and had a BA flight number, however her actual flight was operated by American Airlines.
Marion claimed she was ‘involuntarily downgraded’ and was struggling to get a refund.
She told the publication: ‘I was given, not offered, a $300 (£225) credit voucher for use on AA or a partner airline, which I was told could be renewed if not used within a year, but this apparently isn’t the case.
‘AA also told me I’d get the difference in fare automatically refunded and that I should already have the email. No email came.’
Due to the flight being operated by American Airlines, the holidaymaker said BA refused to take responsibility for the issue.
Marion McGilvary was looking forward to a comfortable premium economy seat she’d paid extra for on her flight, only to find out she had been downgraded – and wasn’t offered a refund (stock)
Marion found herself sat next to another passenger in the same position as her.
However, she was given a $500 (£375) credit voucher and when Marion raised this huge difference, was told it was ‘individually decided’.
‘I was then told I’d get no refund for a voluntary downgrade and that I’d agreed to take the compensation,’ Marion recalled.
The passenger insisted she had not agreed with the circumstances.
The Times contacted the airlines and in the end, BA agreed to give Marion a £234 refund for the downgrade.
The Daily Mail approached British Airways and American Airlines for comment.
Another passenger, Edina, 48, previously told the Daily Mail about her compensation ordeal.
She was flying from Granada, Spain, to Gatwick on September 1, 2019, when she found herself stuck. The Hungarian, who moved to the UK 13 years ago, was travelling with her partner, a breast-feeding infant and two young children via Iberia.
The passenger had booked her trip through British Airways and had a BA flight number, however her actual flight was operated by American Airlines
The family had booked a connecting flight with the same airline from Madrid to Gatwick and was supposed to arrive at the Spanish airport at 8.05am.
Originally, the connecting flight was due to depart Madrid at 8.50am, but it changed to 8.20am, making it impossible for them to make it on time.
She described the situation in Madrid as ‘complete chaos’ and the family landed in Gatwick eight hours later than they were supposed to.
After the ordeal, Edina tried to claim compensation and was hit with further hurdles which she described as ‘horrible’ to deal with.
The holidaymaker didn’t receive anything for six months and first approached Iberia who she says ‘didn’t reply at all’.
She then approached the Spanish aviation authority who advised her to submit again to Iberia and wait one month. Eventually, Iberia agreed to pay compensation and Edina received around €2,000 (£1,738).
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