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Can I Get a Refund When an Airline Changes My Plane Type?

May 29, 2017
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4 min read
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Can I Get a Refund When an Airline Changes My Plane Type?
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"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.

Most people don't know anything about what type of plane they're scheduled to fly on... but most people aren't avgeeks like many readers of The Points Guy. That's why this email question from TPG reader Jacob didn't surprise us at all...

[pullquote source="TPG Reader Jacob"]I was flying Avianca JFK-BOG this weekend and I had chosen that specific outbound leg because I wanted to fly their Dreamliner. But when it came time to board, the plane had been switched and we were on their A330. Do I have any recourse?[/pullquote]

Aviation enthusiasts often choose specific routes and flights based on their desire to fly a particular type of airplane, either because it's new or it's interesting or it gets good reviews from others who have flown it. But when it comes to the contract of carriage for most airlines, they don't guarantee that you'll fly on a specific aircraft — only that they'll get you to your destination. Eventually.

However, that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do if an airline swaps aircraft on you. The sooner you know about an equipment change, the easier it is to deal with it, so the first step is to keep an eye on your reservation in the weeks and days leading up to your flight. Checking the airplane type and seat map on a semi-regular basis ahead of time means you're more likely to know about a change before the day of departure.

avianca 787 dreamliner
Avianca's Dreamliner 787 was the plane our reader wanted, but it wasn't the one he got.

If you do find ahead of time that you've lost an airplane you wanted to fly on, you generally have options. Some carriers make these options official, such as American Airlines in its International General Rules...

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IN THE EVENT, AFTER TICKET ISSUANCE, SCHEDULE CHANGES ARE MADE BY AA THAT... RESULT IN A SUBSTITUTION OF EQUIPMENT NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER... THE PASSENGER WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF CANCELLING WITHOUT PENALTY, OR REROUTING ON DIFFERENT FLIGHTS TO/FROM THE SAME OR DIFFERENT DESTINATION. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER MUST PAY ANY ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RESULTING FROM THE REROUTING.

Other airlines don't provide an official option to refund or change without penalty due to equipment swaps, which is the case with Avianca, as its contract of carriage only provides for refunds "in the event of flight cancellation, diversion, or delays that will cause a passenger to miss connections." But you can often call and find an agent who will help you out if you explain the situation. If you're polite and pleasant and flexible, there's a good chance you can either get rebooked on the aircraft you want for another day or another route, or get a discount or refund.

Now, what if you don't find out about the equipment change until you actually step on the plane? At that point, you're probably out of luck as far as actually getting on the original aircraft you wanted. Your best option then is to put in a request for compensation afterwards. Again, the airlines are not required to give you anything for an equipment swap and you're not going to get an entire refund, but some of them might offer a goodwill gesture of a voucher or some miles.

Sorry you didn't get to ride on the Dreamliner this time, Jacob, but hopefully next time around you'll get the plane you wanted. Thanks for the question, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.