This is just ridiculous... A schedule change that has been initiated by an airline now needs to be payed by a customer.

I was trying to rebooked from a cancelled LH flight to OS, only to be told: "Yes, we will gladly rebook you, however since on OS your fare basis is not available, you will have to pay the fare difference." The most interesting fact is that on OS webpage, my fare basis IS available and IS sold, while LH agents claim not to see it. It appears that LH is adopting FR style...Utterly ridiculous!!!

Update: just got off the phone with agents... The new rebooking rules boils down to the following:

If there was a schedule change of LH operated flights which does not allow passengers to take next LH-operated flight, then rebooking for free for partner airlines (OS, LX, LO, etc) is only possible in the same fare basis. If only higher fare basis is available, fare difference must be collected. For rebookings into lower fare basis, no refund is due.

When I asked the agent about cancellations of flights on the day of departure and being rebooked into partner airlines when only Y/B classes are available, the answer was "The rebooking rules for partner airlines are the same, either before or on the day of departure." So, one can buy FRA-ICN for 500 EUR booked in T, learn that on the day of departure FRA-ICN is cancelled and be offered to be rebooked for FRA-ICN on OZ after paying the difference between T and Y.... Very wise......

If there was a schedule change of LH operated flights which allows passengers to take next LH-operated flight, then rebooking for free for the next LH operated flight is possible into any booking class. If overnight is required in such cases, LH will NOT provide such services.