I just got a schedule change notice on a DTW to PHX trip planned for early next year. No problem, I thought, the 7:50pm flight was moved to 5:07pm, this didn't work for me, so I switched everything to the day before for an afternoon meeting, and a planned morning departure on the scheduled day. I changed my Continental flights into and out of Detroit, then called American. Their response was that when a schedule change happens, the policy is to re-accomodate on the first earlier flight or the next flight out, I COULD NOT change more than 1 flight departure time in either direction. I was given a choice of leaving at 5:07pm (middle of the meeting, but now a day too late) or overnighting and catching the first flight out the following morning. A morning flight cannot be substituted for an early evening flight, Flights cannot be moved more than 12 hours. When I questioned the difference of more than 12 hours if I was to leave the following day, the response was "when it's the next available flight, that rule doesn't apply. When did this new policy happen ? Or should I fix myself a drink and try again after the next shift change?