I primarily use United, I've done the same with Hawaiian and I assume it's the same with most if not all airlines.

So the last few years I've noticed after booking a flight say 6 months or more out that the flight times change usually by only 15 minutes or so, several times leading up to about a month before departure. Kind of annoying but not really a big deal it's just a few minutes. Sometimes you realize after all these flight time changes you are now hours sometimes half a day or more different than when you originally booked. Kind of a pain for original car rental times booked, check ins and outs...….

On United and Hawaiian they send you the notification that a change has been made and you have an option to accept or decline. You can't actually decline because if you click decline it just says to call the airline to see if other arrangements can be made, also noting that only if it's over 30 minutes time change. In the past I would just accept to avoid a useless call that would take who knows how long.


This time I never accepted and after 5 or 6 changes I was off by only 55 minutes but hey, it was over 30 minutes so I called. I refused any other flight but the time that was most attractive for us, earlier arrival, later departure, shorter layovers...... This flight was never available using United super saver miles that otherwise would use twice as many miles or a very high dollar ticket.

After a few firm no's to other flights they gave me the one I wanted because the total changes were over 30 minutes. Now we get to Kona at 11:07 AM instead of 5:20 PM as originally booked (or 6:15 after their alterations if I had accepted the changes) and because the trip home flights changed similarly, I changed it more favorably as well, we arrive back home at 11:20 PM instaead of 10:50 AM the next day as originally booked.


So I guess what I'm saying is book the best available flight that works for you early then let all those 10-20 minute changes pile up and you can choose the flight of your choice, on them.

thanks for the tip

That's a great tip, Thank you.

I was recently annoyed by Delta changing their return flight from JFK - SJC from a non-stop to a 1 stop with a one hour and 18 minute layover in SLC. The flight now leaves JFK at 7:00 am instead of 8:05, and we arrive at SJC an hour and a half later than what we originally booked. We had specifically chosen that nonstop flight. They no longer have a single non-stop from JFK-SJC.

Then Alaska also adjusted their flight time by a small amount on the outbound flight, but at least it's still a nonstop.

Maria -

It sounds to me that you may want to call and give them a hard time. Maybe you will get first class seats out of the deal. It's worth a shot!

I've also had success booking flights a day earlier or later than I really wanted because fares were much lower. Then when flight times changed I called and asked for the itinerary I preferred on the date I preferred.

We received notice that our flight from New Zealand, with a 6 hr layover in Fiji, was leaving Fiji at 12:05 am, rather than midnight. We thought it odd that they bothered to tell us about a 5 minute change. But after staring at the notice long enough, we realized the change was actually 24 hrs and 5 minutes! So we booked two nights at Wmk Fiji and spent the day on an island bus tour. So our Australia--Tasmania--New Zealand vacation with Worldmark had Fiji added on the tail end.

https://thepointsguy.com/2017/03/when-a ... itinerary/
Delta

Delta’s website states that if a Delta schedule or routing change delays your departure or arrival by more than one hour, you may be eligible to select an alternate flight at no additional charge. Your origin, destination and travel date must remain the same; alternate flights must be available; and you can only modify the itinerary once.

You can request a refund if the schedule change results in no comparable flights being available within 90 minutes of the originally scheduled departure or arrival, if the change added one or more stops to the original itinerary or if there’s a change in equipment from Delta mainline to a Delta Connections regional carrier.

Have a friend who flies to Hawaii via WestJet. Flight out had ALL their seat choices cancelled.
More room needed for her husband with knee problems due to three surgeries and a hip that needs replacing. Add a special needs daughter and you can see their problem.

Apart from a refund of their "booking sear" money, they were not treated well. The people who ended up in their booked seats were allowed to stay in place.

I'm sorry to hear that, Ann. That was a real problem.

Our situation is just an inconvenience.

We hate changing planes too...

If you don't show up and check in to the gate by a certain time, typically 10-30 minutes before scheduled departure, your seats can be given away on most airlines.

You can be bumped by airline staff who need to get to another flight for work.

I would definitely contact Customer Service and take to social media and ask for the flights to be refunded. It is illegal (Federal Regulations) to give someone's seat away, if they complied with ticketing rules, without involuntary denied boarding compensation. While these rules were created before airlines started charging for seat selection, which was made for not being able to fly at all, you can still make the argument, or at least I would.

On long flights, which we have checked luggage, I select the seats at the back of the plane, the aisle and window seats, leaving the middle seat empty. Not the last row, as that row typically doesn't recline. If the flight is not completely full, those middle seats tend to remain empty. If a person does show up, they are almost always willing to give up their middle seat for a window or aisle seat.

I've started booking seats that way for my husband and I. One flight got cancelled and we were rebooked on a different airlines with a plane change. Didn't cost us anything and they at least got us into the same row (different sides of the aisle). The return flight we actually had one of the only empty middle seats.

Economy Economy

Each airline calls is something different, but its the cheap tickets that don't allow you to select seats. You have to go to Gate for that. Not to worry if you have a family. Airlines block seats for families and such. Just show up to the Gate early, before the agent gets there and stand in line. The gate agent will do their best to place you together. Be nice. We have gotten premium seats, the ones with an extra inch of leg room and toward the front of the plane, which normally sells for $35+.