Airline schedule change has shortened our trip

[BeccaBean]

We have a long haul trip booked for Christmas holidays to visit family overseas. Airline has emailed that our flight home has been brought forward by 24 hours. We're so disappointed- we can only afford to do this trip every 2 years and we booked early to get a reasonable fare. The email says we can request a refund but when I click the link it takes me to a page which says refund depends on ticket type and ours is nonrefundable. Surely if the airline changed the schedule by 24 hours we should be able to get a full refund? Does anyone have any experience of this? Called the airline this morning but "systems are down" and they told me I'll need to call back later. It's completely stressing me out!!! Thanks.

Yes, you should be able to get a refund given the significance of the change. However, what country is your airline based in as that might change things? Though, if the flight is to/from the UK, some rules still have to be followed (not sure about this one).

However, what's your plan? If you cancel, can you find another ticket on another airline that works and is affordable? Are there flights the day after your original date that would work (so extend by 24 hours rather than decrease by 24 hours)? If, you should be able to change to those for no additional costs (again, assuming that they follow the normal rules that UK airlines do). Would that work better? Could you leave 24 hours earlier and shift the trip but keep the same length? Think about what you really want before calling - and if it might be different flights, look them up in advance.

i contacted the airline when mine shortened the trip
and they put me on a different time flight that day

exactly 24 hours earlier?