I haven't seen this (ignorant) complaint around here for a while, but occasionally someone says:
"I was booked on the 7pm flight but showed up at 5:30 and asked to get on the earlier flight. They wanted to charge me a same-day change fee. That's crazy. I'm doing them a favour by opening up a seat later on. I am (insert status level here) and I'm loyal, so where is their loyalty to me?"
Here is the reason why they don't just move people to earlier flights as a general rule:
Originally Posted by
HerpaYvr
Always has been an earier flight as I usually book the cheaper later flights and then go on the earlier flights if I am done sooner!