Airline changes departure schedule

Unfortunately, it's becoming more common. Airlines are doing everything they can to maximize revenue, and one way they're doing this is canceling or consolidating flights that are not as full as they like. Furthermore, as you were told, there are no guarantees about flight times until you actually take off. However, if the airline makes certain changes that make the flight no longer acceptable to you, under certain circumstances you can cancel or rebook the ticket without penalty. The problem in your case is that you've already stated that you have few options. You may just have to bring a book (or the gadget of your choice) and plan to kill time in Dallas. If you do want the airline to change your ticket, it's very helpful to have researched the options and to be able to tell them of your acceptable alternatives.

Before you accept the changes, do some research and see if AA has other flights that will get you to Dallas so as to reduce your layover time. Also, see if there is a different routing to Paris - i.e. through their Chicago hub. If you find something that you think will work for you, call them - they are generally accommodating in situations like this - however, you generally need to do the research to find something better since on the other end it is a computer that has rebooked you.

Yes, this is typical, and since you aren't flying out of a hub airport, you are more likely to have changes like this. The other advice provided already is good, my additional advice would be to check the airline webpage frequently - they don't always tell you that the times have changed (this happened to me, though it ended up being in my favor). Bring a good book or consider buying a day pass to the airline lounge at DFW.

Thanks for all the positive input. Rick's website is such a wonderful wealth of information and very nice people. A toast to all once we get settled in Paris. I can't wait!!!
Pat

Hi Patricia, Yes, it is fairly common for airlines to adjust their times, but the best thing you can do right now is get on Kayak and look up native routes to CDG to see if there is a better option. This is for information only. Do not buy anything! Use the same day and start/destination airports, but ignore the price and pick the best connection. The new flights should link up with your original flight, but you also have some leeway in the carriers. Focus on flights provided by AA (best bet) and then flights connecting flights provided by Alaska Air or JetBlue. They are partners with AA, so AA can likely put you on their flights without much problem. Do not include connecting flights from other carriers, such as Delta, United, or US. These airlines are part of a different partnership and will not help AA. Write down the times, cities, airlines, and flight numbers. Once you have a couple of routes that will work for you, give the airline a call and explain that your departure time was changed by the airline, tell them that the new time makes it very difficult for you, and then tell them that you would like to accommodated on a different flight. Tell them that you have already looked at a couple options and ask if you could be put on the flights you prefer. If they start to talk about a change fee, tell them that the change was done by them and you are asking for accommodation. They should relent (but may not). They do not have to, but they should. At no point is your existing reservation at risk if you do this. If they can't do anything, tell them not to do anything and then ask for a read back of the current itinerary. It should be exactly as you have it now. When on the phone you have to volunteer for the changes, but the default is that everything stays the same.

We usually book our trips to Europe 333 days out on United. Since we travel on points, we need to do this to ensure getting seats. We've never had one that didn't have changes during the intervening months. Fortunately, the changes haven't been severe but we've always had changes both going and returning.

All good advice above. Also: check your seat assignments - they may have changed, too. Remember, you're their customer, don't be bashful about asking them to do what they can to accommodate you. They may not, but it's worth asking. Also, a 6 hour layover, while longer than ideal, isn't the end of the world (I've had much, much longer layovers). Make the best of whatever happens.

Keep in mind about coming home to US as your flight home may have changes as well.

It happened to me last November when i was flying into Brussels. I am meticulous as to where I get my connecting flight; I chose to fly out of Atlanta as I am less likely to get delays for snow (I usually fly at the end of November when the first big snow storm comes along). I had a choice to fly out of NYC for $75 less, and still chose Atlanta. Now I am used to getting emails notifying me of departure changes; they are usually take off times and most likely in my favor for less layover time. So when I got notified by Delta that there was a change, I wasn't prepared for what they wanted to change........my connecting flight city. They had me flying out of JFK on Thanksgiving eve, the venue I avoided to begin with, despite it being cheaper. they had eliminated the flight from Atlanta due to not enough bodies on the plane. I was so mad. Luckily there were no snow storms nor any TG eve delays. We were amazed as to how quite and civil my airport (Tampa) and JFK was on TG eve. I thought it would have been hell. It wasn't........But I feel your pain for the need to not have a change not in our favor.

I too live in a small town about 70 minutes away from the nearest airport. This airport only has a few flights a day so options are limited. I usually fly Delta (one of only 3 airlines out of this airport) I have never booked a flight where they have not changed it. When I flew to Europe a year ago I had made the reservations 10 months ahead of time. They changed the times at least four times in that 10 months. Most of the time is was just within a half hour or so. But five months out they changed me to a flight that was impossible. They had me arriving in Atlanta after my connection flight had already left. When I called, the reservation person actually laughed and said "that is computers for you". Anyway they just changed me to a flight I could live with. So I always check my reservations at least a few times before my trip. Sometimes changes are made and you don't get an email until a week or more afterward.....The airlines are usually cooperative in helping you if you don't like what they did.

We always book our flights way in advance. We have had a few minor changes but nothing that wasn't workable. It is common that our seat assignments are changed because they will change the type of plane. My husband and I both need aisle seats and just in May we discovered when we boarded that we had one aisle and one middle seat - it had been changed. It worked for us this time because we had 2 empty seats in the row.