[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

In this case, there is the sneaking suspicion of "switch and bait" in which a direct flight is offered, but at the last minute an indirect flight is sustituted with a "take or leave it" choice, with a refund. By then, at Christmas, there would be few choices available and most of them are likely to be unaffordable.

All airlines make schedule and route changes, even Southwest but to a lesser degree because they don't open up dates for booking as far in advance. The earlier one books the more likely there will be a schedule change. If a particular route is under performing based on advanced sales then it is absolutely the airlines right to substitute with an alternate routing.

Originally Posted by jimworcs

I would never choose Delta at a critical time for travel, as my experience of them is that they are arrogant and more interested in executive bonuses than customer care and abuse their monopoly.

There you go with the "monopoly" rant again. What gives? Prove to me that Delta has a monopoly. Even at their "fortress hub" in Atlanta AirTran, a competitor, is thriving. In the OP's case she had a choice of American, Continental, Delta or US Airways for her trip from BDL to PBI.