BUSINESS CLASS Archives

Ellen LaGow gets downgraded on a Lufthansa flight. The airline promises her a refund for her business class tickets. But it's been five months and there's still nothing in her account.

Downgraded on a Lufthansa flight. Where’s my business class refund?

May 21, 2023May 19, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Ellen LaGow and her husband face an inconvenient situation when their return flight from Prague to Denver gets canceled because of a Lufthansa strike. Though they had upgraded to business class, they’re unable to enjoy the same comfort when they rebook on a United flight the next day. Can they get a refund of the fare difference?

Daniel Onn books a business class ticket on Amtrak. Then the rail carrier removes the business class car. Does it owe him anything?

Does Amtrak owe me anything for a forced downgrade?

March 29, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Daniel Onn books a business class ticket on Amtrak. Then the rail carrier removes the business class car. Does it owe him anything?

Downgraded on my Priceline flight

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Douglas Bentele thought he lucked out when he scored two business class tickets to Paris for just $1,400 each. But now Priceline has bad news for him: He’s actually sitting in economy class. Can this be fixed?

I bid on a business-class seat, but I only got half of one

December 12, 2014December 12, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

When John Banister’s bid for an upgrade is successful, he thinks he’ll be flying home in style. He’s half right.

Air France offered us an upgrade — then it didn’t

May 3, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Screen Shot 2012-04-19 at 7.47.01 AM — To the back of the plane with you! / Photo by Pat Card - Flickr

Brian Lee and Alisha Singh were looking forward to their Air France flight the same way all of us used to anticipate flying, and a few of us still do.

They were traveling from New York to Paris on an Air France Airbus A380, the famous double-decker superjumbo, and in premium economy class. “We were very excited,” he says.

Is this enough compensation? A mechanical flight delay, an automatic mileage credit

March 15, 2011March 15, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

What does your airline owe you when your flight is delayed?

Airline terms and conditions — those difficult-to-read contracts of carriages — are often unclear or don’t address a specific type of delay. And if you’re flying to Europe, as Candice Sabatini was, there’s also EU 261, the much-discussed consumer protection law. But that’s widely interpreted as applying to flights from or within a EU member state.

Sabatini is a frequent reader of this site, and her recent American Airlines flight from New York to Paris was held up for mechanical reasons. One other thing to know about her is that she’s a gold-level elite customer booked in business class, so American should want to make her very happy.

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