KSL INVESTIGATES

How An Airline’s Flight Schedule Change Can Open Opportunities For A Better Flight

Jun 14, 2021, 6:10 PM | Updated: Jun 19, 2022, 10:02 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Flight times change all the time as airlines constantly tweak schedules to get the most bang for their buck. Those changes can throw a big wrench into your travel plans, but travel experts said you can also use them to snag much better flights.

Last summer, the pandemic left only 30% to 40% of flights operating as scheduled. Today, that number is closer to 90/95% said Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“That’s still 5% to 10%, sometimes a higher percentage of flights that are going to be changed in advance,” he explained. “And that likelihood is much greater when you’re talking about international flights.”

By law, you are entitled to a full cash refund if a schedule change is significant. But what counts as significant?

In United’s case, a change by 30 minutes is enough to be considered significant. For JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, it’s 60 minutes, and for Delta flights, it’s 90 minutes, while American says four hours is long enough to be considered significant.

Other changes that qualify as significant include a route change in your arrival or destination airport, or if your non-stop ticket suddenly grows a connecting flight.

But you are not legally obligated to take the refund from the airline, and Keyes said this is where opportunities open up.

“They’re (airlines) trying to do whatever they can to make sure that you don’t exercise that right,” explained Keyes. “And so, they’re actually much more willing to work with you to switch flights to make sure to keep you as a customer. But you must proactively call them up and ask to make these changes. They won’t necessarily mention it.”

Keyes said if your flight gets changed, your first move is to find a new flight with the same airline or a partner airline. Use booking sites like Google Flights, Kayak or ExpertFlyer.

“Ignore the fares, just purely look on the schedule,” advised Keyes.

Step two: Call the airline and let them know about this new flight.

“Say, ‘Hey, this new schedule that you gave me is not going to work. Can you switch me to this other flight that is better for me?’” said Keyes. “That gives you a lot of leverage to be able to now bargain for a better flight.”

A better flight could mean snagging a flight with a 10:00 am departure instead of 6:00 am. Or it could be taking off on Monday night instead of waiting for the Tuesday flight you originally booked because it was half-the-cost. Or now, you have found a non-stop ticket, instead of the original flight with tons of connections.

If the airline rep says no, Keyes’ advice is to hang up and call again. Airlines have hundreds of agents, each with discretion.

“I would say the odds are very, very good that the next agent will grant that request,” he said. “And the reason why I know is because I’ve done it dozens and dozens of times.”

The airlines bristle at the thought of giving out refunds for schedule changes, so overall, they are willing to ignore fare differences and let you switch to a new flight for free. The thing is: you must ask, maybe even a couple of times.

KSL 5 TV Live

KSL Investigates

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

19 hours ago

FILE - An airplane flies through the clouds in Salt Lake City. (Jeffrey D. Allred / Deseret News)...

Matt Gephardt

How recent airline incidents are changing habits and impacting airfare costs

After a year of headlines lamenting runway incursions and midair close calls, the wheels may be coming off for the airline industry. Literally.

2 days ago

Josh Kochevar died unexpectedly last month. The unhappy task of writing the obituary fell to his ol...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

How scammers are using counterfeit obituaries to profit off deaths of loved ones

You have probably heard of stories where an empty home was burglarized while everyone was attending a funeral service. Or stories about thieves breaking into cars parked at a funeral. Now, artificial intelligence has opened a new way for crooks to capitalize on grief.

3 days ago

A person scanning a recently generated QR code....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

How to protect yourself from fake QR codes scammers use to steal money and info

Here's what you need to know about QR codes and protecting yourself from scammers.

7 days ago

General view outside of the Delta Center ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19,...

Matt Gephardt

NCAA Tournament basketball is coming to Salt Lake and so are the ticket scams

As March Madness excitement ramps up, so do the odds of buying pricey tickets to tournament games that turn out to be fakes or non-existent.

8 days ago

About a year ago, the KSL Investigators went under the hood of some "connected" smart cars to see w...

Matt Gephardt

Internet-connected cars may share driver info with insurance companies, what it means for premiums

some internet-connected vehicles are sharing our driving habits with our insurance companies

9 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

How An Airline’s Flight Schedule Change Can Open Opportunities For A Better Flight