Sorry, when providing my examples earlier I completely forgot to mention the one time when BA DID get me on an “earlier” flight... A year or two ago flying GLA-LHR during the snows, I arrived around 3pm for a 5pm to LHR. I was comfortably sat in the lounge when I was paged to the front desk and offered a seat on the 4pm to LHR. I have no idea if the 5pm was overbooked or had a delay due so couldn’t say if this was a sign of goodwill, or it was helping BA out. As I had a good seat in the lounge and on board, and I wasn’t in a rush, I declined their offer. A few minutes later I noticed a LCY flight also boarding. A quick check back at the desk, and I was moved over to the LCY flight (and put on as full fare, getting me an extra 10 TPs). The LCY flight was nearly empty – super service, which was just as well as we sat on the ground for 3 hours due to technical difficulties, thus getting me to London after my original flight.

So BA can and do offer free changes to earlier flights, just not very often (read just about never).

Another good flight change story, although featuring China Eastern this time. Flight from Wuhan to Guangzhou delayed indefinitely. I needed to be in Shenzhen that evening, and looked like I would miss the final bus. The super helpful ladies in the lounge (which I didn’t have access to at the time) rebooked me (again into a Y bucket so lots of miles) on a direct Shenzhen flight for free.

And finally back in 2008 flying BD DUB-LHR, my dad and I managed to get on an earlier flight home. We asked at check in, and were directed to the ticket desk. The disinterested woman typed a few things into her computer, then told us to go back to check in...all sorted in just a few minutes, and with no hassles at all.