I just found out that there has been a schedule change on my recent reservation so that now my return flight is 3.5 hours earlier than planned. This new schedule is not going to work for me, and the airline refuses to allow me to cancel without penalty nor do they have any flights which will accomodate my travel plans. Am I stuck with $100 cancel fee or do I have to accept their new timetable?
Thanks for your help

What airline? When this has happened to me, the airlines have consistently offered the option of cancellation with full refund.

Forgot to add flight info

United airlines LAX-PDX 9:39pm has been changed to leave at 6pm.

I don't typically fly, but just doesnt seem right that they can change my reservations and then expect me to pay extra to get I wanted/had in the first place.

Welcome to FT, grokinela. Your question will be best answered in the UA Forum. I am moving this thread to UA and ask that you follow it there.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

my experience is that UA will accomodate you if they change their schedule. below is the current LAX-PDX schedule from the UA timetables


Portland, OR (PDX) 887mi
0643 0900 UA234 752 0 2:17
Above 6/7 - 7/6
0700 0923 UA84 752 0 2:23
Above Eff. 7/7
0705 0923 UA404 319 6 0 2:18
Above Disc. 6/2
0705 0925 UA404 735 X6 0 2:20
Above Disc. 6/6
1152 1406 UA469 735 0 2:14
Above Eff. 7/7
1152 1409 UA725 752 7 0 2:17
Above 6/10 - 7/1
1152 1413 UA725 733 6 0 2:21
Above 6/9 - 6/30
1201 1422 UA725 733 X67 0 2:21
Above 6/7 - 7/6
1241 1457 UA578 752 0 2:16
Above Disc. 6/6
1759 2017 UA96 320 X67 0 2:18
Above Disc. 6/6
1802 2020 UA96 320 7 0 2:18
Above Disc. 6/3
1815 2033 UA96 320 6 0 2:18
Above Disc. 6/2
1830 2054 UA209 735 0 2:24
Above Eff. 7/7
1845 2101 UA288 735 0 2:16
Above 6/7 - 7/6
1945 2157 UA144 752 X6 0 2:12
Above Disc. 6/6
1945 2201 UA144 733 6 0 2:16
Above Disc. 6/2
2138 2352 UA733 320 0 2:14
Above Eff. 7/7

They don't expect that at all (they just don't tell you that outright). Use the timetables to find the flight or connections you'd like to be changed to. Call reservations, and as long as there are seats available and the flights you want make sense -- like you ask to connect in SFO so that you can leave LAX at about the same time you were originally scheduled to -- they should make the change with no problem.

Sounds like BS to me. Gotta use the old UA technique: Call until you get what you want, although this is not a difficult request at all. Let us know how it turns out.