Originally Posted by
trooper
Try flying almost anywhere OTHER than the USA. Ask here in Australia if you can get on the earlier flight and unless the airline has concerns about weather/operational problems later (in which case they likely would have made the offer at check in) you won't be asked to pay $75...You will be told "Your ticket doesn't allow that".
Same with Europe as well. On the BA board there are regular questions (usually from Americans) asking if BA will move them to an earlier flight if they get to the airport early enough.
To which the answer is - yes if you pay the change fee and fare difference or you have a flexible fare that allows changes. Yes there are sometimes exceptions but it's usually if putting you on an earlier flight benefits BA such as anticipated weather issues or the later flight is overbooked and it means one less pax to have to sort out.