Award travel flights and I've not yet discussed any options with the airline but here's the situation:
Our original schedule was domestic flight from city A to city B then international flight from city B.
Airline added a short leg so it's now domestic from city A to city X, domestic city X to city B then international from city B.
The added short flight from A to X has a very tight connection ("Please note connection time" is stated on the new schedule)
We often drive to depart from city X so we could do that rather than risk the short connection time (carry on luggage but small plane so it goes underneath and you have to wait on the jetbridge for it to be brought up - eats up more of the brief connection time)
I can redeposit miles and rebook but there is nothing available for X to B then international, nor any other routing that is reasonable. Trip starts mid-August so award seats(business/first) are taken.
What if we just don't show up for that first leg and drive to depart from X? Or do I see if the airline will allow me to drop that first flight so we are flying an amended schedule? Last time I tried something remotely similar to this I was told "you need a bazillion more miles for that routing". But this is just dropping the first leg so I obviously won't know what they'll say until I call.
Any insight, thoughts or experiences?
Many thanks!!!!