A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
When there's a schedule change, DL can force award availability on its own (metal) flights but not on partner operated flights. To keep the KE ICN-KIX routing would have probably required you to remain on the same KE flight on which you were booked originally (as there probably isn't low partner availability at this time on most KE flights) but change the DL segments to coordinate with the connection at ICN.