Tip: Monitor Your Reservation for Aircraft Swaps

Aircraft swaps are an unfortunate but common part of flying. The problem is that sometimes when they happen, the aircraft that's being swapped in is smaller than the originally-planned metal. In such a case, some premium cabin travelers are downgraded to economy, and other economy passengers could be bumped from the flight entirely, as there's just not enough room.

That being said, it's important to monitor your flight in the days and weeks leading up to travel, as swaps can occur without any warning to passengers. To do so, you'll want to set aircraft change alerts. You can also log in to your frequent flyer account and ensure that the aircraft type is the same as when you originally booked — one of the best ways to check is by looking at the seat map. If you see a change in the aircraft type, it'll be worth your time to call the airline to make sure your seat is secure. If it's an upgrade in aircraft to a better hard product, you'll be in luck with the swap, but if it's a downgrade to an older seat, chances are you'll want to change your reservation.

Check out this post for more information on how to handle a last-minute equipment swap.