ELAL gave my business class seat away. I was downgraded.

[DeenaEdd]

Buyers Beware: ElAl may give away your business class seat. This is what happened to me this week.

I was in the States for Passover. I was booked with Delta and Elal. My itinerary was Memphis to Atlanta, Atlanta to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Tel Aviv. All flights were business class. I paid for business class.
When I arrived at the gate in Frankfurt I was informed that ElAl had given my business class seat to an Elal crew member. They kicked me out of my seat and handed me a seat in the back.

The flight was LY 358 on May 6th 2024
My itinerary says I was to be given seat 01 C.  Elal gave me seat 22 C.

May the buyer beware.

[tavster]

Did Elal offer compensation?

[DeenaEdd]

Absolutely not. They offered nothing at all. (besides giving me the reason for my downgrade being that my business seat was taken from me and given to a crew member. They clearly explained this to me at the gate, and offered me no compensation at all.

[tavster]

Reach out to them - you're eligible for compensation.
Separately you should file EU Law claim for the downgrade since the flight originated in Europe

[DeenaEdd]

Thanks very much for your advice. I wrote to ElAl today. My travel agent says it takes 10 days for ElAl to address a complaint.
I'm starting to investigate how to file the complaint with the EU as well.

[tavster]

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm#upgradeAndDowngrade

[SHL]

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm#upgradeAndDowngrade

European law does not apply if the trip only stopped in Europe
The ASL law (Israeli consumer protection law) does

[tavster]

European law does not apply if the trip only stopped in Europe
The ASL law (Israeli consumer protection law) does

You're right, sorry, didn't realize the origin was US. I only focused on the flight number

[DeenaEdd]

It was my understanding that ElAl needs to follow EU rules when flying out of Europe. (MY ELAL flight originated in Frankfurt. My previous flights were on Delta). Is this not the case?

[SHL]

It was my understanding that ElAl needs to follow EU rules when flying out of Europe. (MY ELAL flight originated in Frankfurt. My previous flights were on Delta). Is this not the case?

Rules for operations yes
Compensation is decided passenger by passenger card on origin and destination
If all your flights were on 1 reservation EU law does not apply to you only US and Israeli
There is downgrade protection in Israeli law however it may be more difficult to claim

[DeenaEdd]

Thank you so much for this explanation. I'll definitely apply to the Israeli authorities. Do you know, perhaps, how I do that?
Again, many thanks for all the interest and support with this horrible issue with ElAl. It's good for them that they didn't hand out a passenger survey the day they stole my seat!