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Hello, I have a long haul flight booked next week and have 2 Avios seats in Club (long haul from Gatwick). I’m a bit worried about an involuntary downgrade at the gate – is this something I can refuse and ask to be rebooked with another airline in business as I’m not in a special hurry to reach my destination. I’ve also read claiming cancellation can be a nightmare.
I think they only have 2 or 3 flights to my destination so would likely need rebooking to another airline at least for part of journey.
Thanks.
Is there any particular reason you’re worried about being downgraded? It’s quite unlikely to happen. If you’re happy to share dates and flight nos I can check how many tickets are still on sale to allay your concerns.
Being downgraded gives no right to be rebooked onto another airline. It also gives no automatic right to cancel the flight entirely.
BA is usually flexible in rebooking onto its own flights should space be available.
But despite the noise made when it happens only a very small number of passengers are ever downgraded.
So no one has been downgraded, and nothing has been cancelled.
You might get hit by a bus crossing the road on the way to the airport. Not wishing that on anyone of course, but no point worrying about things when there is no reason to expect they will happen.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it is a crucial gap in air passenger rights. For me a downgrade is the equivalent of a cancellation as I simply wouldn’t travel. I am sure I am not alone, many will be in a similar position for health/safety/sanity purposes.
I think OP is concerned because of the reports seemingly [anecdotal?] increased likelihood of Avios flights being selected for downgrade.
Hopefully it doesn’t happen but if it does, some articles to get you started:
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/2020/08/13/british-airways-first-class-downgrade/
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/2021/02/15/compensation-for-british-airways-downgrade/
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/2024/12/08/us-airline-rights-delays-cancellations/
And some threads to get you started (and hopefully you will not need these either):
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/forums/topic/avios-booking-downgrade-compensation-question/
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/forums/topic/downgraded-on-avios-booking/
https://hfp2026mar.kinsta.cloud/forums/topic/avios-downgrade-compensation-fun-and-games/
It’s a waste of energy worrying about something that is unlikely to happen.
It’s rare that BA will pay for you to fly on someone else’s metal. Unless you have high status, but then you won’t be picked for downgrading.
So just need to be prepared and decide in unlikely event what you will do. Will you either
Just accept it and be aware of your right for 75% of what you paid , avios and cash minus taxes but not minus BA surcharge back
Or ask to be put on next BA plane with CW availability.
Once you’ve decided strategy, just forget about it.
I think OP is concerned because of the reports seemingly [anecdotal?] increased likelihood of Avios flights being selected for downgrade.
I’ve obviously no idea how many reward flights HfP readers take each year, but getting downgraded is the sort of thing which is highly likely to get reported and I’m pretty sure a handful of examples is a tiny percentage.
As has been discussed previously, it stands to reason that when downgrades become necessary the people with no status who have paid the least are likely to be top of the list, but it’s still very unusual.
For anyone interested: how to *not* downgrade someone https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-downgrades-threatens-embarrasses-brazilian-celebrity/
Many thanks all very useful
Is there any particular reason you’re worried about being downgraded? It’s quite unlikely to happen. If you’re happy to share dates and flight nos I can check how many tickets are still on sale to allay your concerns.
BA2065
24TH JAN 2026
Many thanks.If you were satisfied to take their next departure rather than travel in an inferior class on your booked one, I would be quite astonished if they wouldn’t accommodate that at no extra cost! If the law of England and Wales applies to the contract you could try to invoke the provision of “reasonable care and skill” in the Consumer Rights Act 2015, but surely this is all just way over thinking it, you’re very unlikely to be downgraded and also experience absolutely no good customer service at all.
It’s very rare to get downgraded. Despite the horror stories on here, it’s only a small %.
Given how many flights a day there is, downgrades are very rare, I wouldn’t worry about it.Hope this is reassurance, I did a Avios Barclays voucher booking to Nashville in August.
Outbound flight. Cancelled, option to rebook or refund. Given club on next flight, despite it being full to the gills. Also given a window seat (which I love)
Return. Oversold. Upgraded to *First.
(First doesn’t operate on BNA) so put into a section that would otherwise be out of use. Was it truly an upgrade? No, just a watered down version of the club suite. (Old first config isn’t a suite, no privacy doors) Service offering was same as CW and crew were supper attentive. Got a good night rest and woke up over Ireland. Overall, happy and confident with future Avios/reward bookings.
Do you have any status? Truthfully, it adds protection. (Especially at silver and gold)
Being “upgraded” to the F cabin in those circs is referred to as being “Flubbed”! Happened to us some years ago before I had status and refused to pay for pre-selected CW seats, which I put it down to!
I think you just have to tell yourself that getting to your destination is the main objective, and how you get there is a “nice to have”, in the unlikely event of a downgrade or other disruption. From the instances shared on this site of being downgraded (from F to J or J to PE), people generally get back enough avios/cash/both to nearly cover the cost of their flights!
Being “upgraded” to the F cabin in those circs is referred to as being “Flubbed”! Happened to us some years ago before I had status and refused to pay for pre-selected CW seats, which I put it down to!
Totally. Seemed great at the time, when called to the boarding gate.
Luckily it was my return flight. I was knackered, reached my peak in all the drinking I did on the trip and just wanted sleep. I didn’t have the meal they offered (which is a shame as it was a decent offering) when I woke, I just had a tea and biscuit.What I’ve learned with it is just take it as it comes. (As you say)
If you want CW, then you’ll have to pay for it.That flight is pretty busy as you might expect.
2 available in J one in Plus. Plenty in WT.
It’s also worth mentioning that they hardly, if at all, overbook to holiday destinations like this as generally everyone turns up.That flight is pretty busy as you might expect.
2 available in J one in Plus. Plenty in WT.
It’s also worth mentioning that they hardly, if at all, overbook to holiday destinations like this as generally everyone turns up.Many thanks and that’s reassuring!
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