Claim
I don't have further details at this time but the rellie was an experienced airline user making several trips a week throughout Europe in his job so I doubt that panic/stubbeness or other emotions were involved. It would be all dealt with calmly. He was used to delays and cancelled flights and sleeping in airport lounges at times when there were problems.
Perhaps I might phone Adelaide from the UK for more info, but it is worth it? I merely wanted to raise the point etc. It's always the customer who loses out. I'm sure that if a flight was offered within 24 hours they would have taken it. They lived close enough to the airport to return home, if needed, and them come back for another flight.