Schedule change
 

Did a search but couldn't find my answer, sorry if this have been covered before...

I received a schedule change notice for a trip in January. I am able to see the options on nwa.com to change my flight. Question is, how long can I wait to make the change? Could I wait until a couple days before I'm supposed to depart to take advantage of the schedule change and pick new flights for that day (ideally flights that are nearly F0Y0)?

I don't know how long the system lets you wait to make this change. Two reasons not to wait until the last minute:
1. You may miss the UG and end up in a crappy seat in Y (you'll get whatever's left at that point).
2. AFAIK, you can switch to another flight depending on availability. So if a flight is full or oversold, I don't think that will be an option for you.

What is the motivation for selecting F0Y0? Increase chances of a bump or op-up (if your trip involves an international segment)? I assume that by F0Y0 you mean zero availability in all classes.
It will be difficult, if not impossible to get booked in F0Y0. After all zero availability means just that.

The other issue is that if you wait until a couple of days before your trip, you have not been diligent in rescheduling your flights despite NW giving you ample opportunity to do so. Your only recourse at that time could be to get a refund. Even thatn your case would be rather week. If that's nwhat you want, go ahead and wait.

The hope would be that I would get on a flight that was NEARLY zero availability, not already at zero, and have a chance at a bump. I realize if it's zero that means there is no space available (give me a little credit here!).

I am fine with what the flights they have already put me on, so if I don't change it, it won't be a big deal. And no, it's not an international itinerary.

>>>>The hope would be that I would get on a flight that was NEARLY zero availability, not already at zero, and have a chance at a bump. I realize if it's zero that means there is no space available (give me a little credit here!).

I've had mixed experience trying to get onto flights that don't have the class of service available I've booked in. I've found the elite line to clearly push to keep re-books off of flights that are fuller than others. If it is starting to look potentially full down the road, the resistance can be very stiff. Sometimes an agent will contact a supervisor to ask approval, but if there are any more-wide-open options available you can expect to be put on that one with little choice. If most everything is pretty full, your only other option might be to cancel the whole itinerary for a refund without penalty. I don't think you have any obligation to call to rebook within any particular time frame, but your options if you wait too long might be exceedingly limited.