Airline has changed aircraft - what can I do?

ILoveToMoveItMoveIt

Have booked tickets with Qatar for my husband, myself and our 3 year old. We were  very specific about the flights, and chose based on the aeroplane taking us, as we do not like Boeing and only like airbus, especially with the news of deaths/injuries on Boeing due to the inability to withstand turbulence etc. I do not to wish to debate the pros and cons or whether there’s a difference or not with the aeroplanes etc but simply wish to ask the following:

We booked our flights with Amex Travel. The flight has had its aircraft change from an airbus to a Boeing. I was not notified and I found out when I logged in to find out if the in-flight meal menu has been updated. We paid extra to choose our seats, so we can best support our daughter on the flight, as we are also both disabled. Whilst ij the app, I noticed the seat number had changed for my husband, and from the configuration, it looked like his seat isn’t there at all. Upon further investigation, I found the aeroplane type had changed, which we are strongly against. 

Do we have the right to cancel our flight? (We booked our flights months ago and during that time, Qatar changed our date, and subsequently changed the aircraft, and got rid of the flight schedule we had chosen altogether, but we got in touch and again and chose a flight that was with an airbus). 

ILoveToMoveItMoveIt

As they’ve changed our flight once and now made another change, which is with the aircraft, we want to cancel and choose a different airline to take us abroad 

comeandgo

Have you bought flights that can be cancelled with no costs?  If so do it but no airline can absolutely guarantee which of its fleet it will use.  You buy a ticket to get from a to b.  

jimi_man

Ok, little bit to unpack here. If they have changed the flight date (you say they have) and you have accepted it then there isn't much you can do about that as that's been dealt with.

The fact that they have then changed the aircraft, then again there isn't a lot you can do. Airlines confirm you have a booking between A and B but they reserve the right to swap aircraft, airline or seating. Big airlines like Qatar swap around their planes all the time as ones become u/s so you can't book based on what plane it it - unless you go with Easyjet (Airbus only) or Ryanair (Boeing only) for example.

Obviously if you've paid for seating and they have changed seats to other ones then you can be refunded the seating cost. 

So no you don't have the right to cancel. Best thing I would do is to call and explain the situation and see if there is anything they can do, but if they refuse then there isn't a lot you can do.  

Ayr_Rage

There is absolutely no difference regarding aircraft type and turbulence.

If you get unlucky then that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

You may get some compensation for seat changes if it is a downgrade but unless you have booked a fully flexible ticket you will not be able to cancel without penalty.

Edit : As you booked via a third party you'll need to carefully check the ticket conditions and all changes will have to go through Amex Travel.

Wonka_2

I’ll leave you to your hypotheses about Boeing vs Airbus but the reality is if you want to choose the metal you’re flying on/in then you either
a) choose an airline that only has one (but recognise they can still subcontract to someone else to operate the flight)
b) take a private jet
c) book fully flex tickets and hope that last minute sub-contracting doesn’t happen

option d) remains of discussing with a therapist how to overcome the fear/thoughts

bagand96

There's no right to a flight change or cancellation due to the aircraft type. Unless of course you've booked refundable/changeable flights. 

Pollycat

If you had booked your flights direct with the airline, you'd know what type of ticket you bought. 
It's a choice you make at the time of booking. 
You need to check with the 3rd party you chose to put between you and the airline what type of ticket you purchased. 

I only book seats on long haul and check regularly to make sure I still have the ones I've booked.

Westin

ILoveToMoveItMoveIt said:

As they’ve changed our flight once and now made another change, which is with the aircraft, we want to cancel and choose a different airline to take us abroad 

You have that ‘right’ but not to be refunded.

bagand96 said:

There's no right to a flight change or cancellation due to the aircraft type. Unless of course you've booked refundable/changeable flights. 

As above.

If you are flying ex LHR, have a look at the QR schedule to see if your Airbus desire is operating on another service LHR DOH.  You have no rights to demand to be moved from one service to another but perhaps if you take a polite, non-confrontational tone on the phone, you may get a helpful agent who is conciliatory and agrees to move you between flights.  This option clearly not open if flying from the regional U.K. airports when perhaps only the B787 on that routing.  

FlorayG

NO I don't think you can make any point about the actual aircraft, only about your loss of seats. We had a long-haul flight booked once and the 'plane was changed while we were at the airport due to some problems. We ended up with a 'plane that didn't even have in-flight entertainment ( although one of the cabin crew entertained us with Tom Jones impressions, I will never forget it  ). This can happen any day, so even if all was correct for you right up to last moment you might end up on a different aircraft

heatherw_01

The change of plane is not a grounds for cancellation.
This happens and seats can change.