# BA downgraded us then scrimped on compensation

> BA downgraded seats for Avios users, then gave less than owed: Sally sorts it.
- Title: BA downgraded us then scrimped on compensation · Dailymail
- Summary: BA downgraded seats for Avios users, then gave less than owed: Sally sorts it. BA downgraded a passenger's seats after they paid with Avios points and a…
- Keywords: avios, cedr, compensation, downgrade, premium economy, vouchers, travel, flight, seats, airline, customer complaints, downgraded
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/money/holidays/article-16224027/BA-downgraded-scrimped-compensation-wed-paid-Avios-voucher-SALLY-SORTS-IT.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-21T08:14:38+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ba, avios, cedr, compensation, downgrade, premium economy, vouchers, travel, flight, seats, airline, customer complaints
## Flight downgrade
My husband and I flew from Costa Rica to London in January.
## Avios payment plan
We had planned a year in advance to use Avios points and a two-for-one companion voucher to buy premium economy tickets.
## Check-in issue
We were unable to check in online for the flight, so got to the airport early to be sure we would get our seats.
## Seat downgrade
BA changed the plane to one with a different seat configuration and could not put us in premium economy.
## Downgrade claim
We believe the downgrade wasn’t random and that we were discriminated against because we had paid using points, not cash.
## Compensation claim
BA returned our points and gave a small sum of money after the downgrade.
## CEDR complaint
We raised a claim with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) after BA refused to compensate fairly.
## BA's calculation
BA calculated our entitlement at £145 plus 27,750 Avios points, saying the companion voucher had no value.
## CEDR's calculation
CEDR decided we were entitled to £994.38 on top of the £213 we’d already received.
## Payment received
The money was in our account eight months after the downgrade.
## What happened next
Those in similar situations should take heart that fair redress for unwanted downgrades is possible.
## Key takeaway

BA downgraded a passenger's seats after they paid with Avios points and a voucher, but the passenger got £994.38 compensation from CEDR after a dispute.