Comment from R. Gellenss
R. GellenssOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter argues that American Airlines' (AA) new contractual terms for a flat 40% refund on involuntary downgrades are unjust and create a perverse incentive for the airline to downgrade passengers. They advocate for a refund based on the actual fare difference and additional compensation similar to denied boarding amounts.
AA's new contractual terms of a flat 40% refund is staggeringly wrong. AA should be required to refund passengers the actual difference between the fare paid and the lowest available fare for the cabin flown available on the original ticketing date, plus an involuntary downgrade compensation amount in line with the involuntary denied boarding compensation amount. AA's new terms is not only flagrantly unjust, it perversely gives AA an incentive to involuntarily downgrade passengers who paid for a cabin higher than what they flew (e.g., first or business class, premium economy, etc,)