I booked a one-way M&M Award ticket on OS, NRT-VIE-ZRH, in Business Class. For this, I paid ~JPY23000 in taxes and carrier surcharges.

About a week before my travel date, a more convenient routing (NRT-HKG-ZRH) became available. I called M&M and asked for the ticket to be changed. I was told that there would be a €50 change fee and that the taxes and fees for the new award would be €82.

So far, so good. I made the change and paid the €50 + €82 with my credit card.

About a month after my flight, I noticed that the original ticket's taxes and fees, about €200, had not yet been refunded. I called M&M and was told that "no such refund is offered." I assumed a clueless agent and instead sent a note, with e-ticket receipts attached, via the contact form on the website.

Today, I got an email back saying the same thing - "We will not provide a refund".

In my previous experience with other FFPs (UA, AC, TK) in identical cases, there was often a service fee (the €50) but beyond that taxes and surcharges were always reimbursed.

Is this really true? Is it even allowed that surcharges, never mind government airport fees, for flights not taken are not refunded?