In July 2024 I purchased online a SYD/LHR return ticket with outbound in June 2024 in Business class on a D fare but in order to secure the outbound space and as the required return isn't until Jan 2025 (which obviously wasn't yet in the available advance booking range) I booked a notional date (so July2024) with the intention of paying the fare change penalty. I've happily done this several times with BA,AA etc in the past. My required return date is now within booking range but on contacting JL Reservations, they are telling me that all their tickets are only valid for 12 months from ticket issue so I'd have to cancel & rebook the whole round trip. I've checked the fare conditions in Manage Booking (which seem to be identical format to those in Expertflyer etc) and there's no such condition shown. On the current fare quote page for "Business Standard" it shows maximum stay 12 months, with nothing about the 12 month validity from issue date rather than from date of outbound journey.
I'd appreciate any advice as I've tried phoning twice and they seem quite adamant. One staff member suggested I could try again after flying the outbound but if I leave it till then a) the Jan return availability in D might have gone and b) there seems to be nothing in print about this and if they revert to the maximum 12 month ticket validity argument, it will be too late to cancel the round trip and I'll presumably forfeit the return fare.