Downgraded from business to economy: how much you get back
What changed (17 Oct 2026): Rewritten and expanded: how the refund is calculated, worked examples, connections, and what to do at the gate.
Under EU261 article 10, the airline must refund 30% of the price of that flight up to 1,500 km, 50% for flights within the EU over 1,500 km or flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and 75% for all other flights, within 7 days. The percentage applies to the downgraded flight's share of the fare, without taxes and charges.
Check my flight in 30 secondsYou paid for business class and the airline seats you in economy, because of overbooking, an aircraft change or a broken seat. Article 10 of Regulation 261/2004 makes the airline refund part of the price of that flight, within 7 days, whatever the reason. No extraordinary circumstances excuse applies here.
How much
| Flight distance | Refund |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 30% of the price of that flight |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, or 1,500 to 3,500 km | 50% |
| All other flights (over 3,500 km) | 75% |
The refund applies whenever you are placed in a lower class: first to business, business to premium economy, or premium economy to economy.
If you are moved up to a higher class, the airline cannot charge you anything extra.
What "the price of that flight" means
The percentage applies to the price of the flight on which you were downgraded, not to your whole trip, and without the taxes and charges that do not depend on the class of travel (Mennens, 2017).
When your ticket covers several flights and the price of each is not shown, the share of the fare for the downgraded flight is worked out in proportion to its distance compared to the whole journey.
Examples
- Paris–Rome in business (€600 return, €300 each way), downgraded on the outbound: 30% of €300 = €90.
- Madrid–Tenerife (about 1,750 km, within the EU) in business for €450, downgraded: 50% = €225.
- Paris–New York in business for €3,000 return, downgraded on the return flight: 75% of the return flight's share (about €1,500 without taxes) = about €1,125.
Downgraded and delayed?
The refund for downgrading is separate from compensation for delay or cancellation. If you were downgraded and arrived 3 hours or more late, you can claim both. See flight delayed.
At the gate
- Ask for the downgrade to be written on your new boarding pass, or for a written confirmation. The new boarding pass showing the lower class is your best evidence.
- Don't accept miles or a voucher as final payment unless you want them: the regulation says the refund is paid in money. See voucher or cash.
- Keep your original booking confirmation showing the class you paid for, and the price.
How to claim
Write to the airline that operated the flight with your booking confirmation, both boarding passes (original class and new class) and the price paid, citing article 10(2) of Regulation 261/2004. Ask for the refund to your bank account within 7 days. Our free claim letter can help.
If the airline refuses or offers less, see what to do when the airline says no. Many claim services also handle downgrade cases: compare them.