Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-08-06 14:13Core Viewpoint - The airline's last-minute aircraft change led to a forced downgrade for a passenger and her family, highlighting a lack of clear communication regarding the risks associated with upgrading to a premium cabin [1][11][15] Group 1: Incident Overview - A passenger, Liu Na, experienced a downgrade from a premium cabin to standard economy due to a last-minute aircraft change by China Southern Airlines (CZ3106) [2][6] - The family was not only downgraded but also had their seats scattered, resulting in discomfort during the flight [2][6] - Liu Na had specifically chosen the flight for its premium cabin to accommodate her elderly parents and young daughter [5][10] Group 2: Airline's Response and Policies - China Southern Airlines stated that the downgrade was a non-voluntary situation and offered to refund the upgrade fee [11][12] - The airline's policy indicates that if a passenger is downgraded due to aircraft changes, they will be refunded the upgrade fee, but does not clearly specify "aircraft change" as a risk in the upgrade product details [11][12][15] - The airline's terms suggest that changes in flight schedules or aircraft types are possible and do not guarantee the originally booked cabin class [14] Group 3: Consumer Rights and Legal Perspective - Legal experts argue that airlines should clearly communicate all potential risks associated with upgrades, including the possibility of aircraft changes leading to downgrades [15] - The vague language in the airline's policies regarding "public safety" and "special flight guarantees" may mislead consumers about the risks of downgrades [15] - There is a call for airlines to explicitly list "aircraft change" as a potential reason for downgrades in their upgrade product descriptions to ensure consumer awareness [15]