Originally Posted by MAN Pax
Sounds to me as if you have a valid booking and a valid contract - I know of nothing in the rules that redemptions may be cancelled after booking.
I'd be talking now to a consumer protection law helpline to confirm your rlegal position- methinks that the initial issue of the tickets proves the contract and that bmi is acting as an agent for the other airlines. I believe it is down to bmi to deliver the flights as agreed, or you will have a strong case to recover any additional costs in making alternative, equivalent, arrangements.
It's not a case covered by the EU regulations, as there has been no flight cancellation or denial of boarding: the reservation has been deleted and the operating airline is not (yet) at fault.
I agree that the OP's got a booking and a contract. I don't agree it's time to call a lawyer though - let's not forget than bmi have told the op there's 'no problem'. Albeit that may well change. I suspect a less than clued up agent has waitlisted the OP for a class (award inventory) that just isn't going to clear.
The OP is quite entitled to get on the flight he booked - what he needs to do is simply stand his ground and escalate if he meets a problem. bmi
can pay for a seat if the carrier won't release award inventory. And if he escalates enough, bmi
will pay.
As to whether bmi should have to 'lose £5000' on the deal - that's one of the perils of doing business when you've got cheap but less than ideal staff/systems.