Originally Posted by
abfab
This is one big advantage of booking directly with an airline, the airline reservations agents have full control of the booking.
Which is not always a good thing.
To counter your point, last weeks events at BA.
You would have significantly better off with a booking that was made through a competent travel agent. I know for a fact that last week external agents were - depending on the passenger's circumstances - either proactively re-booking people on other flights or issuing waiver codes to be presented at airport desks. Meanwhile, if you were ticketed direct with BA, well .... creeks and paddles come to mind.