Wrong. Would you have that same attitude if this were a revenue ticket we were talking about?

bmi entered into a contract with the original poster. Now they need to make good on their part of the contract. They screwed up on the cheap way to deliver on that contract; now they need to fulfil it the expensive way.

By all means the original poster should be accommodating when it comes to bmi finding new award flights that are satisfactory, but he should also be entirely clear with them that if they can't find award flights he expects them to transport him in his originally booked classes of service with any additional costs at their own expense.

If that doesn't happen - well, the quantum of damages for breach of contract is expectation loss. The original poster is should go on holiday, enjoy himself, and sue at leisure in small claims track of the Country Court on his return.