争议“免费降舱”：曾有旅客起诉获赔，航司称换机型未必通知

Core Viewpoint - The recent incidents of "forced downgrading" by airlines, particularly Xiamen Airlines and Air China, have sparked public discussions about the declining quality of flight services and the legal implications of such actions [1][2][3]. Group 1: Incident Overview - A passenger reported being downgraded from business class to economy class on Xiamen Airlines without prior notification, leading to claims of "forced downgrading" [2][3]. - Xiamen Airlines stated that passengers were notified via SMS about the change and offered options for free rescheduling or refunds [3][4]. - Air China faced similar complaints regarding a change from a larger aircraft to a smaller one, with passengers expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of communication [7][8]. Group 2: Legal Implications - Legal experts indicate that airlines must obtain passenger consent before downgrading service levels unless due to force majeure [12][13]. - Previous court cases have ruled in favor of passengers who were not informed of downgrades, with compensation awarded for the loss of service quality [4][6][11]. - Airlines have established compensation standards for downgrades, but these may not fully cover passengers' actual losses, leading to disputes [5][11]. Group 3: Airline Policies - Xiamen Airlines' policy states that changes in flight schedules or aircraft types may occur and are not guaranteed, which is included in their terms and conditions [3][9]. - Compensation policies vary among airlines, with some offering fixed amounts while others provide refunds based on a percentage of the ticket price [5][6]. - The lack of transparency in compensation execution has been criticized by passengers, who feel they must negotiate for fair treatment [3][5].