I've booked my return flight to Italy for this fall, and because there was a promotional deal on when I booked it, I was blessed to move up to business class, by paying a small fee...treats for me! The flights were booked and paid for in February. I called my travel agent yesterday to complete our seat selection, and the airline told her that they were changing the classification of my flight! Rather than a 2/2/2 seat configuration in business class, they are now making it 3/3/3 seating and refunding most, but not all, of my $$$! So, what's the point of booking business class in the first place, if they have the right to arbitrarily change it, if they see fit? My real question is...what can I do about this? Likely, the answer is...nothing much! Any feedback would be appreciated.
"If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs." ~ Herb Kelleher Brenda
Poor Brenda! Did they just change the aircraft to one with a different seat configuration - or did they bump you back out of business class into the cattle car?
Was it a charter? Which airline, so we can all be aware...
Just remember -- one way or the other, after a relatively short amount of time (though it may seem interminable) you will be in ITALY! Keep the end in mind!
Too bad I don't have a Brenda type storehouse of just the perfect quotations.
Judy
Posts: 1791 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
COMPLAIN NOW to your Travel Agent. You are not going to receive what you purchased.
Notify your credit card company about this now.
You should be able to cancel without penalty because Alba/Skyservice is not providing you with what you bought.
Another option maybe to change your dates slightly for flights that still have the Business class seats ( if there are any ).
You will see how good your TA is if he/she resolves this in your favour. These economy seats 3 3 3 do not compare to the ones you purchased in any way. They are smaller than Air Canada economy.
Wish you well. J.
For others who might have been interested:
Skyservice was offering: Classe Superiore seating with 2/3/2 seat configuration, with 35 inch seat pitch,88 lbs baggage allowance, and other amenities for an extra $249 Can. each way, so it was a good deal.Economy flights ranged from $899 to $1049 from Toronto to Italy with open jaw to Rome, Venice, Trieste, Pescara or Lamezia.
Skyservice has changed their classe superiore to premium economy. The only things I can see in its favour is that the baggage limit has increased & the pitch is still 35 inches.It sounds like it is still a separate section at the front of the plane.
Ask about the difference in these two classes. Having 3 & 3 would bother me vs 2 3 2, where you have a window and aisle for 2 people travelling together.
Thanks for all of this wonderful help and advice! I've just stopped at a Flight Center here in Vancouver, had one of the agents e-mail their contact at Skyservice and she also cc'ed me, as well, so they know that I'm also in the know. I'm waiting for the Skyservice rep to contact me and then we'll see what has transpired.
June, you are amazing! How do you know where to find these links?
I'm not happy, there's no doubt, but I'll reserve decision til I've heard from someone at Skyservice/Alba Tours. I'll be SURE to let you know what I find out and what happens! My travel agent is off work, very ill right now, so I'm dealing with his replacement.
"If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience." ~ Robert Fulghum Brenda
Brenda! I believe a bit of your famous 'Flow' embraced our family yesterday. We were just informed on Friday about the plane change and the Business class ramifications but, as we leave Tuesday, could not accept their offer of a full refund, and besides our family in Italy would be crushed if we cancelled. At the very least, it is a direct flight and not through Frankfurt.
So here's the 'Flow' part...yesterday between packing and fuming I got a phone call...a parent's nightmare... my daughter had been hit in a car accident a few minutes from home. My heart sank as I approached the intersection strewn with crushed cars and debris.
Then I saw her standing!!! off to the roadside in the embrace of a stranger. She is very shaken and sore, the other driver pulled a dangerous left hand turn that could have been deadly, just a matter of inches.
Soooo, Those ol' airplane seats seem pretty insignificant now, we are so thankful to have our daughter alive with no serious injuires. What better place than Italy to heal and count our blessings?
~Nancy
Posts: 255 | Location: Canada | Registered: 23 July 2004
Oh, Nancy; I'm so happy that your daughter is okay. You're right, often it takes something as scarey as that to make us remember what's important. I just wish we could have gentler reminders.
We also leave on Tuesday and I haven't even thought about packing yet (well I have thought about it). Aside from a lovely break at the GTG yesterday, we have been working non stop which has put me in a pretty crabby mood. Your posting brought me back down to earth. Thank you!
Have a wonderful trip.
Sheena
Posts: 2259 | Location: West Vancouver, B.C. Canada | Registered: 28 February 2004
Nancy, Geez! how scary for you! I'm happy to read that you're daughter is well. thank goodness for the hug of a stranger, bet she appreciated that hug! You're right, some things don't seem so horrid when put into perspective. Italy, yes, the perfect place to count your blessings!
Brenda, I hope your seating arrangements work out to your advantage. I'd be equally peeved about it anxious to hear how this is resolved.
Oh Nancy, I'm sooo glad your little girl is okay. I have two that I just put in the hands of 's. Blessings on that stranger who was standing by. When I got hit by the car I also had a white haired stranger who stayed with me, held my head steady and calmed me down until the EMT's got there. I never did find out who he was. Hope your trip to Italy is smooth sailing from here on out.
Nancy, thank you! Our phone rang this afternoon and it was Becky, crying hysterically. The first thing I thought of was an accident b/c of your story this morning(she was at Six Flags) but she was just upset b/c she lost her cell phone. I was so relieved it wasn't anything serious, I didn't even blow my normal gasket at the loss (her second).
Everyone, thanks for the virtual best wishes and yes, thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.
My daughter continues to ice and heat some pretty sore back and neck muscles and I've booked her a checkup and massage this morning. We'll be travelling with gel packs and a hot water bottle but at least we're travelling!
Brenda&Chiaro: Yes, We were immediately offered a full refund after Skyservice delivered the news. They also offered to extend our trip and change our city of departure. We could not take advantage of either offer because our travel dates are not flexible this trip. We have limited flight choices to Italy, both A/C / Alitalia were full anyway, besides we did not want to go in and out of Milan. I'll deal with the whole airline thing when we come back, I don't want the added stress.
Actually, I wanna be Dorothy in Oz, click-click my ruby-red slippers and I'm there. ~Nancy
Posts: 255 | Location: Canada | Registered: 23 July 2004
Brenda! I believe a bit of your famous 'Flow' embraced our family yesterday.
Nancy, you are bang on the money! That's definitely flow for ya! It's such a fantastic thing, when you are 'standing in the beam' as a friend says...or, when all the lights along Jasper Avenue are green, as far as your eyes can see...that's my way of saying it. Stuff happens, and we have no earthly idea why, until later, when we can stand back, take a second look at it and say, "Ohhhhhh.....I get it! THANKS!"
Life has taught me that we get a gentle tap on the shoulder, first. That's followed by a little whack upside the head, if we aren't listening, and if that doesn't catch our attention, then we get a good one with a 2"X4"..."Are you listening now, child?" I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I'll pay close attention to the gentle taps on my shoulder, because I truly don't like that 2"X4" very much at all!
So, here's the latest news...I've just received an e-mail from Ryan, my favorite travel agent in the Universe, and he tells me, "I just got off the phone with Sunquest/Alba, and they are releasing the seats for choosing on Wednesday, so I will call them and get your seats selected on Wednesday morning. They are upgrading their system and have not been able to pre-select first class in the new system. Do you have a preference of seats?" Hopefully, this means that there is some light at the end of this tunnel, and it's not a freight train!
I've asked Ry to let me know which plane will be on for that flight, so I can go on Seat Guru and check out which seats I want. June, you like A1 & C1, on an Airbus 320?
So, still no news for me, other than seat selection is opening up on Wednesday. Does this mean that there are no changes? OR, that there are changes and I just don't know about them yet?
Whatever happens, it will be all good, I know that as sure as I'm sitting here, so I'll wait and see what transpires...I'll let you know!
“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life." ~ Epictetus...Greek philosopher AD 55-135 Brenda
I like to choose the first row for leg room...but sometimes bulkhead and exit row seats can only be assigned at check in. And I like to have a seat that can recline.
Hope you had a nice weekend and hope this works out in your favour. J.
I've just sent Ry an e-mail, and included your information for him as well...he's going to call me tomorrow and let me know what happens. Apparently, the seat selection line is open beginning at 9:00 A.M. Wednesday, so he'll know more then.
Thanks for the links, June! I didn't know where to begin to look for SkyService seat plans! I think 2 seats in the first row on either side would work for me. Hopefully, that is available. I've also asked Ry to check and see what the actual difference is between this new class of seating and the regular economy seating.
I'll keep you posted...wish me luck, bon chance, best of everything and the top o' the mornin' to ye! I'll need all of these to pull this off, I think! When life gives you lemons....
“Lovers of air travel find it exhilarating to hang poised between the illusion of immortality and the fact of death.” ~ Alexander Chase Brenda
June, I have the most amazing travel rep in the world ...Ryan's a tie for your most amazing travel agent, I think!
He e-mailed me yesterday morning and here's the good news: The seating plan on our flights have been altered to 3 aisle 3 aisle 3, and he booked us in the first row seats left side bulkhead for both of us going over, and then the first row window seat left side bulkhead for both of us coming home. We are on separate flights on our return, so he booked that gorgeous seat for each of us!
Alba Tours/Skyservice have indeed reclassified my flight, adding extra seats into the former Classe Superiore seating plan, and will issue a $150 credit for each seat. The Premium Economy seats look about the same size and spacing as in regular economy, with an added bonus of complimentary prosecco , express check-in and a 110 lb. baggage allowance. Still, having bulkhead is good as gold for me, and worth the extra cost.
Does anyone know what a 35" seat pitch looks and feels like, in comparison with regular Economy?
I learned something with this whole thing...no matter what you think you've bought, it's not always what you though you'd bought! It is interesting that a company can change classification AFTER fares are paid by the client.
Basic Flying Rules: * Try to stay in the middle of the air. * Do not go near the edges of it. * The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there. Brenda
Topic Closed
I got a phone call...a parent's nightmare... my daughter had been hit in a car accident a few minutes from home. My heart sank as I approached the intersection strewn with crushed cars and debris. 
You're right, some things don't seem so horrid when put into perspective. 
's. Blessings on that stranger who was standing by. When I got hit by the car I also had a white haired stranger who stayed with me, held my head steady and calmed me down until the EMT's got there. I never did find out who he was. Hope your trip to Italy is smooth sailing from here on out.
It's such a fantastic thing, when you are 'standing in the beam' as a friend says...or, when all the lights along Jasper Avenue are green, as far as your eyes can see...that's my way of saying it. Stuff happens, and we have no earthly idea why, until later, when we can stand back, take a second look at it and say, "Ohhhhhh.....I get it! THANKS!"
...Ryan's a tie for your most amazing travel agent, I think!
, express check-in and a 110 lb. baggage allowance. Still, having bulkhead is good as gold for me, and worth the extra cost.