Originally Posted by
3Cforme
No, there is a set policy on this: an IATA convention applying to more than 200 carriers. The carrier delivering you late to the connecting point is responsible for rebooking. It doesn't matter if the ticket is purchased or an award; doesn't matter if it's code-shared; ticketing carrier is irrelevant; elite status doesn't matter.
Advance schedule changes are a problem for the ticketing party (party, not carrier), but day of travel disruptions are on the operating carrier.
This is always under my belief.
However, when told the ticketing carrier is responsible for the IRROPs handling, sometimes operating carriers do not do their job to rebook passengers right. Therefore, some airlines would just rebook the entire reservation with their new eTicket number, new PNR to just accommodate the passenger in the case of IRROPs.
For example, BA Avios ticket on AA. IRROPs on AA. AA couldn't switch the other flights of AA, they booked a completely brand new reservation with revenue fare code and PNR.
Fare code also matters:
In Star Alliance, in the event of IRROPs, carriers typically book the equivalent booking class into another flight of their own metal, then *A carriers, then non-partners.
In OneWorld, this often results in the rebooking in lowest fare available. However, in most cases, IRROPs result in at least the highest fare Y, J, or F, in respective cabin.
In Skyteam, I believe it also would results in highest fare, but it really depends.
In OP's case, it depends on TG. They could look for the award availability to switch the OP to, or book into the lowest cabin available (Business to Coach, or First to coach) if they have to book the OP into the non-partner airlines.
At the end, it depends. However, I must say that in IATA convention, anything can happen. Elite status is not supposed to matter, but it often does, especially if you are stuck in the operating carrier that you have the status with.