"On domestic flights, there may be rare cases when an airline has oversold seats and there simply isn't the capacity, he adds. However, typically airlines are able to find a solution if this happens by asking volunteers to change their flight in exchange for compensation. More often than not, the downgrades will happen shortly before the flight, only when airlines have exhausted all of their options."
"For example, if a maintenance issue with inoperable seats takes longer or is more extensive than originally anticipated, "it makes more sense for the airline to bump a passenger to economy than to try to make an expensive fix at an airport far away from home," Arnot says. While the news is no doubt a disappointment, Arnot reminds passengers to first and foremost not take out the frustration on the staff, and pack some patience and understanding."
Rarely, domestic flights can be oversold or suffer maintenance issues that remove premium seats, forcing airlines to downgrade passengers. Airlines typically resolve oversales by seeking volunteers to change flights for compensation. Downgrades usually occur shortly before departure after all options are exhausted, especially when repairs are impractical at remote airports. Passengers should not direct frustration at front-line staff because the downgrade decision is made collectively by the airline. Depending on seat availability, involuntarily downgraded passengers may be offered an alternate flight in their original class. The Department of Transportation requires a refund for the fare difference for downgraded passengers.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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