Downgraded to a lower cabin: what you get back
You are owed 30%, 50% or 75% of the ticket price for that flight by distance, not the difference between the cabins, which is usually less.
The percentage, not the difference
Airlines frequently offer the fare difference between the two cabins. The regulation does not say that.
It says a percentage of what you paid for that flight: 30% under 1,500km, 50% between 1,500km and 3,500km and for other flights within the UK or EU, and 75% for everything longer.
On a long-haul business ticket the 75% is usually far more than the difference the airline offers, so the offer is worth checking rather than accepting.
What it is calculated on
The price of the flight that was downgraded, not the whole booking. On a return, that is the one leg.
Taxes and charges are stripped out first.
You should get it within seven days, and it is a refund rather than a voucher.
Upgrades are different
An airline that moves you up a cabin cannot charge you for it.
And a downgrade is not the same as a cancellation or a delay. If the flight was also three or more hours late, the delay compensation is separate and both are payable.
Common questions
How much do I get for being downgraded?
30% of the ticket price for that flight under 1,500km, 50% between 1,500km and 3,500km, and 75% over 3,500km. It is a share of what you paid, not the difference between the cabins.
The airline offered me the fare difference. Should I take it?
Check it against the percentage first. On long-haul the 75% is usually more, and the regulation entitles you to the percentage.
Can I claim for a downgrade and a delay on the same flight?
Yes. They are separate entitlements and one does not replace the other.
Check your own flight
AirHelp will tell you whether a specific flight qualifies and handle the claim with the airline. TravelTrauma earns a commission if a claim succeeds, at no cost to you.
Check your claimMore guides
- Flight delay compensation: what you can claim in the UK and EU
- Your flight was cancelled: refund, rebooking and compensation
- Lost or delayed baggage: what you can claim
- Denied boarding and overbooked flights: what you are owed
- Missed your connection: what the airline owes you
- The airline said no: how to challenge a refused claim
- Package holidays: what you are covered for when it goes wrong
Last reviewed 2026-10-08. This explains the rules and is not legal advice; the circumstances of your flight may change what applies.