Thanks for the welcome. This is a very informative site.

You're right -- I have no idea what's negative about the word "compensation". I guess I'm about to find out. Maybe I should have just said "refund"? It just seems that something should come back after paying $6000 for a business ticket and ending up in coach. I said "compensation" because I wasn't sure whether to expect a cash refund, vouchers or miles...

To answer your question, the return trip was supposed to be KLM from Nice to Amsterdam, then Continental on to Houston.