I imagine this is not possible but I thought I might ask the experts here.

I bought two business class tickets from JFK to Madrid about 6 weeks ago. Today I learned that my partner will not likely be able to take the trip due to upcoming and much-needed vascular surgery requiring a stent implanted in the lower leg. This has been the cause of his difficulty in walking for the past yer or so.

. I bought no trip insurance. Tickets are booked and paid for on Iberia, cash, from JFK to Madrid and return from Valencia via MAD (other legs by rental car and train).

Is there any chance that I can get a refund for my partner's ticket, with a letter from the surgeon?

I will fly to Spain in March, solo, but doubt if I can change the name on the ticket to suit my plans. That ticket has not yet been purchased.

I do understand that, as we age, trip insurance is a good idea but other than berate me for not taking this option, I would like to understand if I have any chance at all to go about the procedure to cancel my partner's ticket......the rest of the trip shall remain as is..car rental hotels,.just wondered if I had any prayer at all in recouping the business class RT tickets for my partner who likely will not be medically cleared (by his md) to take this trip.......date of surgery to be determined this week, as will be among of time needed for recovery and clearance to fly. This will not put us I the poorhouse but at the very least can I donate the tickets to someone needy? (can I bring friend, or is their a way to donate the paid tickets to someone heading for
Spain in mid-November, returning early December?)

Just an aside: Rice dishes are served for two persons, and I have already reserved ours with a few restaurants, so I will eat my way through a vast paella or three!!!! Restaurant are booked...all set save this latest glitch in planning.
I can never finish a dish of rice for two...is their a way to "donate" uneaten food..I will surely ask upon arrival at my hotel and at the restaurant....

But the major question here regards the RT ticket...

I wish your partner well with the surgery and recovery.

You certainly can try to get a refund, but I wouldn't count on it. Probably the best you can hope for is applying the value of your partner's ticket toward future travel ... by your partner. Plane tickets are never transferrable, so the value of the ticket will not roll over to you, nor can you use it to bring along a friend.

Can the trip be postponed until later in 2025?

The only way to know what you are due is to call Iberia . . . Possibly your partner can get a credit for future travel. A refund - probably not, but you need to ask them.

Trip insurance would not likely have helped in this case anyway, unless it specifically covered pre existing conditions (expensive!). Wishing you well for your own travels and your partner's recovery.

Assuming you purchased on your credit card...(you say cash, so not sure if you did) our credit card covers us up to $1,500 each on transport. I'm not sure of the details, and it would be a drop in the bucket on a business class ticket, but worth looking into.

Otherwise, I'd speak to the airline, see if they can help.

Iberia can be tough with non-refundable tickets, but I’d definitely call and explain the situation with a doctor’s note—they might offer some flexibility, like a refund or credit. I’ve had luck with another airline once when I had to cancel due to medical reasons, but it’s hit or miss without trip insurance. If they won’t budge, you could see if any taxes or fees are refundable. Unfortunately, most airlines don’t allow name changes, so donating or transferring the ticket might not work.

I did a medical cancellation with other airlines before. If you can provide the doctor's notes and other proof along the way, I think the patient can get its refund.

Some restaurants with dinners served for two will accommodate half of one for one person if you ask. I did this myself without a problem, although I suspect there was another diner there with the same request. It won't hurt to ask. If all else fails, leftovers make for a nice breakfast.

I'm returning to say that my partner took the trip: Madrid, Valencia, Denia.
He could not get around too well so we took lots of taxis and at times I went around on my own.,

Thanks for all the responses!