Schedule Changes Can Be a Benefit
 

In looking to book SMF-Milan in August, the most desirable flight (with one change in ORD) was offered for 70000 miles in Economy one way. So,we booked a less desirable flight, SMF-ORD-FRA-MIL, available for 33000 miles.

Less than 3 weeks later, United advised us of a schedule change, now requiring an even less desirable set of flights, SMF-SFO-ORD-FRA-MIL, as the previously-offered connecting SMF-ORD flight apparently is no longer being offered.

We got on the phone with United, and requested to be moved to the flight we wanted in the first place, SMF-ORD-MXP, and the agent immediately agreed. So, now we have our first choice of flights, but for only 33000 rather than 70000 miles. On a cash basis, United wants $1256 for Economy for this flight.

For Economy Plus on the better flight, United wanted 110000 miles total, or an additional $765 above the standard Economy cash fare. On the other hand, once our standard Economy seats have been booked, we are able to to upgrade the seats to Economy Plus for about $429 per person for the most expensive selection in the exit row. Think we will be doing that.

I once posted my annoyance at airlines offering flights and then withdrawing them. A FT contributor urged me not to be annoyed, but rather to view schedule changes as an opportunity. That principle appears to be proven in my most recent experience. In other words, book any flight when booking well in advance, and chances are that there will be one or more schedule changes. At that point the airline will need to reaccommodate, and one can request the most beneficial flights one wanted all along, which of course are themselves subject to additional schedule changes. Nothing is guaranteed, but at least there may be an opportunity.

100% agreed. I've used minor schedule changes to get a better routing and/or better dates on multiple occasions. It appears that the airlines don't use the same re-pricing rules as they would if you initiate the change. It's not a full wild card either, and I don't know exactly what the detailed rules are

If there are good UA options to get you either a) to your destination or b) close enough to your destination that you'll have multiple options to get you there, it makes the most sense to book the cheapest option in the class you want almost hoping for a schedule change, which is almost inevitable if you book far enough out. The challenge comes when you're going somewhere where UA doesn't have great coverage where a schedule change can leave you without any options. Trying to visit Central Asia, the Middle East, most of Africa, etc., becomes far more difficult, so I tend to book those types of flights with long layovers so that an hour or two schedule adjustment will not throw everything off.

Schedule changes giveth, and schedule changes taketh.

Sometimes you have your situation, and sometimes they drop the only nonstop service on your route. It just depends :)

Trust me, I know all about that. I took a buddy to Nicaragua this past fall and originally booked a nice, simple DEN-MIA-MGA on AA using miles. AA postponed their return to Nicaragua and there aren't any OW partners that could get me there. So, booked a nice easy DEN-IAH-MGA with UA miles. Then of course United postponed their return a couple of days later. So, then I found DEN-IAH-SAL-MGA with the last two legs on AV, but AV stopped flying IAH-SAL on Wednesdays, the day we had to leave. Rebooked DEN-DFW-SAL-MGA, same story with the DFW-SAL a couple of days later, cancelling their flight on our specific day. Finally ended up flying DEN-IAH-PTY-MGA after convincing a couple of UA agents that they should look kindly upon us and open up space on the UA IAH-PTY flight once a glimpse of PTY-MGA space opened up. I think, overall on that trip, I had 8 or 9 schedule changes in 3 months. Each made it more complicated. Flying to India this summer, I purposely scheduled a few >9h layovers to a) let me see something of the cities where I'm laying over, and b) to provide a buffer in case of big schedule changes.