When an airline swaps planes before your flight, where do you stand?

Well I know it's a disappointment, but I would rather be on an aircraft that is going to get me to my destination, than one that may terminate mid flight.

I agree with Colin I would rather get to my destination in one piece!This happened to me we were flying to London from Sydney a 23+ hour flight and we always go Qantas QF1 which is a 380 and we were told that the 380 had a problem and so they brought in a 747 it did the job it got us there in one piece. Job well done Qantas!

If an airline "swaps" one aircraft for another due to a safety issue or a "problem", so what ?. It's being done to ensure I and all the other pax. get where we want to be and in one piece. It's happened to me before in the past and will happen again. I don't care what aircraft I get swapped onto, as long as it's being done for my safety. As for a $$ voucher or whatever, why ??. The airline contracts with you to fly you from A to B. I think if you check the fine print, you might find that they have the right to use any aircraft they deem suitable for the job. If you get from A to B, what do you need to be compensated for ?

I agree with the folks who say "So what?" and prefer to get to my destination on a plane that is fully serviceable. The only time I'd baulk at the change of model is if, for example, I'd booked on a specific adventure such as (a fictitious) "Tour of Antarctica on a new 787 Dreamliner." Then you'd have cause to complain.

The customer should be notified as soon as the change in aircraft type becomes known to the airline, and the customer should be given the choice of either keeping their existing flight (and given, say, a $50 discount voucher for a future flight), or, the customer should be allowed to re-book onto a different flight on the CORRECT make & model of plane, without penalty, and still get a $50 voucher.

This has happened to me. I booked a flight on a Boeing 767 only to find out it was changed to an Airbus 320. As i am 6ft 2in i felt like a sardine in a tin. I didnt know the aircraft had been changed until i was in the air. As others have said you should be given the option of changing to another flight on the aircraft you prefer. I complained to the airline which i travel with all the time and got no satisfaction.

Furthermore ... watch the cost of a seat escalate if airlines are expected to prioritise passenger desire for a nice comfy seat in the situation of compromised safety I.e. the designated plane being unfit to fly. You guys of this opinion have your heads up the 'proverbial' if you think you're entitled to that degree of choice for free.

A draw card?! You ARE kidding. I avoid these two time bombs as much as possible. Actually, you wouldn't get me on a 787!!!!! Nobody could be surprised that that thing was grounded ... Eventually. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. I'm a mere frequent long haul flier who has read the newspaper during the development of these two and I know better than to trust them to not terminate mid-air one day. It is only a matter of time.