Korean Air Skypass - KE Same Day Change/Standby from Connecting to Direct

Hi folks.

Flying this Sunday AM (1/15/2012) on a purchased business class ticket from LAX-NRT-ICN on KE 2, departing at 10:05AM from LAX, connecting through NRT with a ~2 hr layover, and arriving ICN at 7:40pm on 1/16/2012. Same flight number, just stops in NRT en route.

There is a nonstop that I didn't purchase at the time because it was substantially more expensive. KE 18 leaves LAX at 10:55am on 1/15, arrives ICN at 5:35pm on 1/16. Appears to be room in J right now -- it's the A380 for goodness sakes.

I've only flown KE once before, very unfamiliar with the policies on changing flights same day. Since the flights leave within 50 minutes of one another, my plan is to show up at ~8am to LAX and see if I can make the switch to flying direct. Anyone have any experience with this? Is it possible to do same-day? Can I call ahead of time and do it?

Update to my earlier post.

The answer: Not possible without paying fare difference. Tried calling ahead, tried making the switch at the check-in counter, tried talking to a supervisor. Would have cost me about $3k, so I stayed on my original flight!

Wow that is some brutal fare difference, probably more so since it is a full fare new fare.

I do hope KE does get standbys / easier upgrades. (at least something that is better to paying differences in fare)

Wow that is some brutal fare difference, probably more so since it is a full fare new fare.

And A380 has different business class product than via NRT flight (prestige sleeper vs. prestige plus). Moreover, KE frequently promotes via NRT flight by lowering fares (not sure they do for business class, though).