Originally Posted by
Koby
Remember that Spanair is part of Star Alliance. So if they try to tell you that there is no alternative to get you to BCN, they are lying.
AFAIK, if you had an OK reservation, they have the obligation to offer you alternatives: either a refund or an alternative route. I would insist that they put me on another *A carrier’s flight. (BMI, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, Lufthansa all fly to BHX and BCN.)
Of course they will not mention this. They would rather just give you a refund. That's easier and cheaper for them.
This is almost correct but it has nothing to do with Star Alliance - its an EC requirement. They have to put you on another flight, whether its via a stopping off point like AMS or CDG or whether they pay for the train to London and put you in IB/BA. They cannot refuse to do this. Even if the only option was to get an early morning or late night flight from London and pay for a taxi transfer because there was no train they would still need to pay. However, you cannot insist that you go with Star Alliance. The route they offer is up to them. You can demand a refund of course if you choose that instead.