I am not sure which airline represent your average experience; but in my experience, almost all airlines will fight to "your death" not to give you anything bac

I am not sure which airline represent your average experience; but in my experience, almost all airlines will fight to "your death" not to give you anything back. In the times they do (especially European), it's because there is a law that requires them to. What happened to the OP is, therefore, unusual.