Having and continuing to live in Europe. I flatly disagree, as what you describe does not match any experience or what happens with other airlines in the same situation. Yes there are outliers and cases that go to MCOL, but those are the exceptions. EC261 has been around for 10+ years, everyone knows what is expected in 99% of cases.

I should also add that my experience of buying tickets in AU through a travel agent, when it has gone wrong, the agent steps in on my behalf and negotiates with the operating carrier to sort out any EC261 issue.

when booked through a third party the third party deals with the operating carrier on behalf on the pax. Period.

Given that from the other thread where experience QF flyers, do not even trust QF to make a simple change to a booking without stuffing it up, we could agree that managing to do something half way competent and standard for any other carrier is QF going above.

KF