Help! Award booking different from request
 

I changed my award booking MCI-LIS. Previously I started at ORD and was on AF via CDG; now I'm MCI-EWR-LIS on CO. I got this confirmed on the phone; they said it was a manual change that would take time to be reticketed. I found on nwa.com that the booking but not the ticketing has been changed.

It was my understanding that I was booked to arrive at EWR around 6 p.m. for the 10.05 departure. Instead they have me arriving at 8.50. I certainly prefer to have more time to connect, especially for the last transatlantic flight of the day. Also I'll be in BusinessFirst and entitled to use the PC, so that would make the extra time pass better. So first, do I have a legitimate worry about making this connection? This will be on a Saturday in August. I just tried calling WP and was kicked out before getting anyone. Do you think I can get this changed without another change fee? Does it help that the ticketing hasn't been changed? Anything in particular I should say on the phone? I have no status.

I'm puzzled at why I get such a lack of response on this board, but maybe people had various troubles spending time here due to the storms at NW's hubs, which also was affecting NW's phone agents. On Sunday I got kicked off once; on another try I stayed on hold for over 30 minutes before I had to leave. I shouldn't try calling again until the end of work today. So, is there any advice anyone can give?

I don't think its a lack of response, but typically the weekends are slower than during the week :)

85 minutes is plenty of time at EWR. I wouldn't worry, but it doesn't hurt to call and try for the other flight.

Agree that 85 minutes is fine in EWR. But if it makes you uncomfortable, see if there's an alternate, and if there is call and request it.

However, I'd wait a few days and let the res agents get through clearing the disruptions of the weekend, so they'll be more relaxed.

Yes, my worry is more about delays that could have accumulated during the day; also the chance to spend time in the PC is appealing.

About waiting to call, would it make a difference if the change is ticketed yet, as it wasn't as of Saturday?

I have no idea why anyone would want to extend their layover to spend time in EWR......PC or not. That being said - 85 min. could be a little close even in the summer when T-storms appear. Rather than make the change now(possibly for a fee), I would monitor the weather on the day of departure and if it looks questionable - go to MCI early and jump on the flight prior.

Update
 

Continued frustration in getting through Monday... I got through this morning at 6 a.m. CT. The agent first said nothing had changed since I booked in October, which is completely untrue; my original booking was AF out of ORD. I didn't get anywhere saying I understood my booking was for the earlier flight, but she offered to waitlist me on NW MCI-DTW-EWR arriving 6.46. I agreed to that, although more connections mean more chance for something to go wrong. This would be in First rather than CO's no-First RJ, and she said there's a better chance that availability will open up in First. Any thoughts on this versus just trying to change to the earlier CO flight on the day of travel?

So do waitlists generally work out, in terms of getting the assignment if it opens up? I ask because on a DL award in 2000, when I could't check online, I was waitlisted on a better connection, and when I called to check on it they said they had no record of me being on a waiting list but they could confirm me on the better connection.

Do we even have waitlists for awards? I have never managed to get put on a waitlist.