Originally Posted by MathMusic

I usually use this as an opportunity to book a cheap and/or inconvenient flight (overnight layover, redeye, etc.) and then rebook it to a more sensible itinerary when the inevitable schedule change comes. Cheap mileage award with an overnight layover bring it on! I know the odds of no changes several month out are basically zero!

Right now I have a February trip that has both a MCT trip through customs in MIA and an overnight layover in PHL that I am waiting for a schedule change to come through on, but I booked it anyway since it was under $500 RT. Once that schedule change hits you can swap to any reasonable routing on the new schedule without any issue usually.