cha cha changes!

If the changes are substantial, inconvenient, or would cause me to miss a connection, I just call them up with an alternative itinerary (new flight numbers, etc.) that is within the scope of what they can do. Legally, they have to oblige (with no fees or penalties) if the changes they make are drastic. They have rules about what's considered a drastic change - give or take more than 2 hours in either direction. I've cancelled a flight completely once and got all my money back (but obviously I would only do this if you can get a better deal with another airline). With 2 connections, it's better to have more cushion than less due to the cascading effects of one missed connection on another.

I don't worry about minor changes, only ones that would really affect my itinerary and plans. It's totally normal now to get e-mail alerts of minor changes, but some airlines seem to tweak their schedules a lot.

I can't believe they charged you anything at all. Changes happen all the time and I think on every single Europe trip we've ever made there have been changes to the schedule. When that happens and it's unacceptable they have always willingly changed our flights without hesitation.

I had a terrible flying experience 5 years ago. My non-stop flight SFO to LHR was changed to a flight with plane change in DC with just a few minutes to make the change. It might have worked except that our first flight left late because of weather issues. Needless to say, we arrived in DC after our connecting flight had already left. Long miserable night, etc. followed. I wished I had paid closer attention when they first changed my flight. I might have shopped around to find another non-stop flight, even if there was a charge to make the change. They had sent me an email about the change but I either ignored it or didn't see it.

American started changing our outbound flight around which may have caused us to miss our connection to Venice. We had booked through the tour's travel agent, she got things changed back for us. Now we're checking frequently to be sure the flight's not changed again. It may be legal, but it's not good business practice (as if the airlines care).

It's not clear from your post whether the airline was correct or incorrect in assessing change fees. If they were making a change that you requested on your own (without any regard to a major change on their end), then yes, they have a right to charge you when "you change your mind" about your itinerary. But when they make a substantial change to your flight involuntarily, then you have some rights for mitigation. They have to offer you an alternative or allow you to cancel the flight altogether. The key is to know what constitutes a major change on their end, and that is spelled out in the carriage contract for your flight. I use 2 hours as a rule of thumb, although I've asked for flight changes (and not gotten charged a change fee) simply because the connection window was 15 minutes shorter all of a sudden and I did not want to take that risk. Believe it or not, the customer service folks at some airlines are not consistent when you call and can tell you contradictory things. When I hear a "no", I politely back out and then call again and try someone else or ask to speak to a supervisor. Again, you have to know when to pick your battles. Minors stuff shouldn't matter, but major changes that screw up your plans need to be fixed (at no charge to you). In my experience, American Airlines makes tons of changes, and I just gave up on them due to the hassles they caused me multiple times.

I was just told the $100 courtesy fee change was because I talked to a PERSON. My change was an hour which made my connection in Dulles to LAX down from about a 2 hour layover to a 50 minute one. I am flying in August in the afternoon and you know there might be storms! and delays!! I think the problem, besides the changes, is what the airlines consider "legal". I wonder if they make a 65 year old employee run through the airport and time them to see if they can make a flight. If THEY can then it's "legal"!!! Oh the joys of flying.

Chriss,
What airline is this? Is it a budget airline or a legacy carrier? I hate to say it, but it sounds like they took advantage of you unless that $100 fee is spelled out somewhere (if it is, then I'm wrong obviously). I have been in the position of having to change my flights with 50 minute connections before and I simply said that this new flight change (instigated by the airline) would not work for me. I gave them alternate flight numbers and asked to be switched to that flight. The airline customer service worked with me to get me a different schedule on the phone. I made sure to confirm that any change was penalty-free (i.e., free of charge). This has happened to me more than 3 times, and each time it was resolved by phone. You have to be patient, but firm with them. I think that technically, an 1 hour and 10 minutes may be a "legal" change but the airline will work with you if you are really unhappy or worried about a short connection time (in my experience at least).

Qoth the vampire trying to change his airline reservation, "You people are bloodsuckers! And I don't mean that in a good way."

Agnes, thanks for your info. I AM a newbie at switching flights. it was United . They originally were going to change me to Chicago for $600 for 2 txs. I said no. Then they said there was a 5 a.m. flight,$300. I told the woman that there was a 10:30 flight and that's what I got. She said she ONLY had to charge me the $100. We discussed the whole time thing,etc and that they had changed my perfectly good time. I will fight harder if there is a next time and I'm sure there will be! The small print will get you every time OR you were just nicer and firmer with more experience!!

Read Rule 24C in the Contract of Carriage in below quotes. There's a lot of legalese in there but it basically says that they owe you transport in the same class of service without charging you extra. The key is to negotiate an alternate itinerary with them that is convenient for you.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contract-of-carriage.aspx#sec24

"Schedule Change- When a Passenger’s Ticketed flight is affected because of a Schedule Change that modifies the original departure and/or arrival time by 30 minutes or more, UA will, at its election, arrange one of the following:

• Provided that the dates of departure and arrival must be within 7 days of the originally scheduled dates of departure and arrival, respectively, transport the Passenger on its own flights, subject to availability, to the Destination, next Stopover point, or transfer point shown on its portion of the Ticket, without Stopover in the same class of service, at no additional cost to the Passenger;

• When a Schedule Change results in the cancellation of all UA service between two cities, at UA’s sole discretion, UA may reroute Passengers over the lines of one or more carriers in an equivalent class of service;

• Advise the Passenger that the value of his or her Ticket may be applied toward future travel on United within one year from the date of issue without a change or reissue fee; or

• If the Passenger is not transported as provided in C) 1) or 2) above and does not choose to apply the value of his or her Ticket toward future travel as provided in C) 3) above, the Passenger will be eligible for a refund upon request. See Rule 27 A)."

OP If the airlines say the flight is "legal" then they will do all they can to make the connection happen... You can not lolly around the airport and expect them to hold the flight for you. I do understand the change fees and all the mess it takes to arrange flights now. For all international trips I always use an agent (yes! they still exist... ) I may pay a small fee for expert, but they get the job done and listen to my wishes ...i.e., seat assignments, time I need to connect, etc. I think the fee for an expert is well worth the time in research and headaches.

I see changes frequently in my itineraries, but the vast majority result in few problems, moving by only a few minutes, sometimes more.

The only one that caused me some heartache, a flight back from Europe, well ahead of time they discontinued the regional flight to get me home that night and re-booked me on a flight the next day. That meant it was not considered a "through" flight, so in Atlanta, I had to collect checked bags, get a hotel room (extra $$), check in the next day for my flight, then, since it was now a domestic flight, had to pay to check bags. I did complain, they refunded the baggage fees, maybe gave me some miles, but not very helpful.

I should have contacted them right away when notified of the change, they may have done something then. In the OP case, they charged because the Airlines position was that he could make the connection, if not, they would still accommodate him.