This is not the seat you paid for. Here’s what to do if you get downgraded on a flight

You arrive at the airport only to be told that you won’t get the airplane seat you paid for.

Unfortunately, you’ve been downgraded.

While uncommon, it happens more often than you might think. You book a premium economy, business-class or first-class ticket, but when it comes time to fly, you’re bumped to a lower class.

It can be especially frustrating when you’ve booked a lie-flat seat on a transatlantic flight and were expecting elevated dining options and a restful night’s sleep.

Anton Radchenko was involuntarily downgraded twice in 2023 — once when flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Frankfurt and another time on a British Airways flight from London to Los Angeles. But as the founder and CEO at AirAdvisor , Radchenko knew how to address the issues.

“I’ve seen firsthand how mo