usernameistaken

That sounds really frustrating! Here is some perspective. I know what you mean about trying to book a one-stop - it makes such a difference. Can you get your miles back and just pay for a ticket? That's what I might do.

When I book more than 4 months in advance, I generally expect to be shifted around and normally it's not to my advantage, especially when I am on an award ticket, but it is what it is. Since I fly out of Boston, I get weather delays all the time, I would rationalize what happened to you this way - well, if there is a weather delay or a mechanical problem, then I would be late into Hawaii anyway so it wouldn't matter if I booked a one-stop, IYKWIM?

If I were you, I'd really politely chat to as many customer service reps until you get something. I did this once for a trip to Japan. I booked a trip from Osaka-Tokyo-New York-Boston and only right before I left did I find out my flight to Tokyo from Osaka was arriving at Haneda and my flight from Tokyo to NYC was departing from Narita AND I had a 3 hour layover AND American Airlines was not going to lift a finger to help me transfer! I called every single day until somehow, I got this angel of an AA employee who not only changed my first flight to Osaka-Narita instead of Osaka-Haneda but also reimbursed me $100 per ticket because of the fare change. Unbelievable! And I didn't yell or scream or anything - I was extremely polite.

Good luck!

lcuy

Also, if you are able to change to a better routing now, be aware that the airlines have 8 more months in which to change your schedule again!

eastave

I don't get why some of you are so hard on the OP. It sucks. Just because it happens routinely doesn't make it suck any less. As someone else pointed out, if my schedule changed sometime in the interim, I don't get to weasel out of the deal. Somehow the airlines have managed to beat up the customers so badly that many take the abuse with a shrug.

djkbooks

All in all, you are at the behest of the airlines, with or without FF miles. And, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it...and whining, no matter how loudly or understandably, just will not help.

Thousands, millions, have mega miles they cannot even use to get anywhere at all..

You can vent all day long, but you still are subject to all those terms and conditions and restrictions.

No matter how "frustrating", and allegedly inconvenient, at least you are still able to get there with your miles.

NoFlyZone

>if my schedule changed sometime in the interim, I don't get to weasel out of the deal.

Actually, you can. As djkbooks pointed out it is all subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the ticket you purchase. A regular, full fare ticket does allow you to back out of the deal anytime, any reason.

However, the airlines will also sell you a ticket at a lower price providing you give them one or more privileges back. So, for example, they will give up $nnn off the price if you agree to give up the right to unilaterally cancel.

Basically, it is the customer who gets to pick and choose what privileges are purchased.

lcuy

Thant's true nofly, but the complaint is that under the normal ticket rules, its a lopsided arrangement. The airlines can change their schedule with no penalty, the passenger has to take it or leave it.

I've actually been pretty lucky with schedule changes. Several times I was able to buy a cheaper & better ticket elsewhere, as it happened close to my flight date. One time, the airline bumped me up to first class, as I they had switched us to a night flight, and I told them I really needed my sleep!