Danielle Schwab was shocked and frustrated after finding out that her fiancé, Mikey, had been downgraded on their flight, even though they had paid for his first-class ticket.
While an unexpected flight upgrade can be a pleasant surprise, the couple faced the opposite situation. TikToker Danielle shared her experience, revealing that her fiancé was downgraded from first class to premium economy during their flight from London to Chicago.
The couple had been celebrating their recent engagement, and their parents had surprised them by booking first-class tickets for the return flight—a thoughtful way to mark the special occasion.
Initially, everything seemed perfect. The couple and their family boarded the plane and settled into their first-class seats. But things soon took a turn when a staff member approached Mikey and said, “We need to downgrade you.”
Naturally, Mikey asked for an explanation. The crew told him that a seat was needed for a staff member to rest during the flight. When he asked why he was selected, he was told he had been chosen from a list and was given two options: either switch to premium economy or wait for the next flight.
Danielle explained in her viral TikTok video that the staff were “forceful” and “pushy” during the interaction. After some discussion, another family member decided to give up their seat so the situation could be resolved.
This change meant the family couldn’t sit together in first class as planned. Danielle also noted that they received no immediate compensation for the inconvenience, calling it “unacceptable.”
While Danielle admitted it was a “first-world problem,” she criticized the “poor customer service” and said it shouldn’t have happened.
In response, United Airlines explained that the crew’s designated rest seats weren’t available, forcing the reassignment. They assured the couple that the price difference for the downgrade would be refunded and offered $1,500 travel certificates as compensation.
