I have a trip to Florence booked with United, IAD to BRU (operated by United) and BRU-FLR (operated by Brussels airlines). This morning I get an email from Brussels airlines telling me that the BRU-FLR has been cancelled because of a general strike in Brussels on October 14. I look in the United App and there is no notice of any cancellation. I call United and they tell me that the flight has not been cancelled, they even transfer me to someone with Brussels airlines that tell me that the flight has not been cancelled. I google "strike Brussels Oct 14" and it is all over the news that all flights leaving from BRU on October 14 have been cancelled. A few hours later I look at the United App again and see that the flight has been cancelled. My options are to get the ticket refunded or to change it, if I change it I have to pay the difference in fare. Is this normal? I thought that since the one flight was cancelled I would be able to change the flights without having to pay any fare difference.