You are not wrong, SMessier, however my exchange today did little to convince me that myself and the airlines involved are two parties trying to amicably sort out a resolution. In such a case I would be far more willing to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement.

I am now ticketed and the contract of carriage is in effect. I intend to make them uphold said contract.

The fact of the matter is I booked this ticket purely because of the price. I'm sure South Africa is a wonderful country but I could go anywhere else in the world at that time. It's going to cost me at least 60,000 miles just to meet the origination of the ticket at ARN. I could take or leave the whole trip, but the antagonistic handling of this whole matter by SN and Q7 has left a very bad taste in my mouth and now I'm quite enjoyng the fact that they know they are on the ropes.

I think in situations like this you get what you negotiate and I intend to negotiate my best deal possible.