Originally Posted by
orbitmic
??? So what exactly leads you to assert that? (1) When the ticket is booked through a travel agent, it is for the travel agent to organise the rerouting, (2) AF (through expedia) offered rerouting at the earliest opportunity (nowhere does it say 'after the cancellation time' typically one simply goes for the nearest time be it before or after), which was the night before. (3) in the case of flight cancellations, AF provides travel agents with 'commercial instructions' which details what is and is not allowed. I have not checked the specific instructions for this particular trip, but AF commercial instructions for flights which are cancelled or significantly changed in timings tend to always be more or less the same - and happen to be some of the most generous in the industry. Typically: a) reroute at the earliest opportunity in the same booking class or if not available in the same transport class, b) rerouting on KL or DL in the same transport class if preferred, c) report within 30 days before or after departure date in the same booking class, d) full refund. This again (and notably the changes within a full month) go well beyond the airline's regulatory obligation AF is under. We know that the OP asked for something which is outside of these (fairly generous) AF offers and his request was declined. He was offered rerouting at the earliest opportunity which does not work well for him and I have no doubt that if he asks somethng else within the realm of AF commercial instructions (e.g. to be flown on the next day in the same travel class, or any day within a month before or after which has the same booking class available or to be reimbursed) he will be obliged. AF has fulfilled every single one of its regulatory obligations as far as I can see, and it is now for the OP's travel agent - as per industry dominant practice (point taken earlier than some airlines are exception) to advise him on what is/is not allowed. What the OP wanted (rerouting) is not allowed but there are, effectively, plenty of options and consistently with its regulatory obligations, AF has communicated with the OP's travel agent to advise them on all of them.
c) is definitely not fully compliant, As
centipede100 noted, in addition to earliest opportunity rerouting, the airline must also offer rerouting at a later date of the passenger's choosing. However, they may impose availability constraints in that case (in other words: same booking class). Limiting it to 30 days either side has no basis in the regulation.
Not that this is of much relevance here, as it would not really help the OP.