I find it interesting that someone might think this is a new or unusual problem.

http://newsok.com/what-to-do-if-an-a...ad_story_title

I've been in the travel business for over 20 years and this has been happening forever. One thing that isn't mentioned is that sometimes when the airline's computer rebooks you they might book you on a connection where the flight in the connecting city leaves before you arrive there. I've seen that happen countless times. The computers are only as smart as the people who program them.