Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
If you are still on an IDB scenario and IB regard your friend as a no-show then you have no choice but to buy the most reasonable ticket going (ideally on IB) and submit that to IB for repayment. Almost certainly that will be a struggle, IB only refund if a court or governing body instructs them to do so, unless the case is impossible to refute.
I agree buying a new ticket is the likely solution here if they won't rebook. However what I would do is buy the ticket direct from Iberia, using the same card as I bought the original with, and then immediately call up my card company and dispute the new charge. That should hopefully avoid the need for court action at least as far as the extra ticket cost is concerned.
For the IDB compensation and hotel cost (if any), that may be a longer fight.