I have a problem with a redemption and need some advice. One or two regular posters know something about this from a PM but the story has evolved so I'll summarise the relevant details.

I discovered after reviewing checkmytrip that an airline operating one segment of a redemption booking has stopped operating that route. DC had not got around to informing me. I checked ANA and couldn't see any alternative redemption seats so I decided to phone ICC to find out if they could see anything different.

I was told that there weren't any alternative options, which I suspected, but I had assumed I would be able to leave the booking alone and play a waiting game, just in case something came up. It makes no difference to other travel arrangements I've made if I cancel now or in a few weeks, but the best solution would be if an alternative came up. I've waited for availability before when a sector has changed (though in the past its always been due to a schedule change not a route cancellation). However, this time I was told I would have to cancel the trip and given no other options. I asked if I could wait for availability and was told no, because the ticket was no longer valid.

ICC probably gave me correct information but in a desperate attempt to avoid the ticket being cancelled I decided to hang up. I called back and asked the relevant questions again of another operator and to cut a long story short was given more or less the same answer and explanation.

My first question is, can you hold onto a booking where a sector is missing in the hope a replacement award seat becomes available? I'm optimistic that if I could wait, something might appear as there are a few route options and I'm flexible on class. Also, if an airline cancels a route does the responsibility shift (in other words does the operating airline then have some responsibility to re-route or is it still up to the ticketing airline to find an award replacement or issue a refund)?