Often if I have an indirect routing I'll be asked at check-in if I wouldn't prefer the non-stop flight. I've also had luck standing by for flights to alternate cities. For example, flights to OAK or SJC are sometimes far less expensive than to SFO, so there are times I've ticketed to these cities instead of my destination SFO. Then at the airport I ask if I can take the flight to SFO instead. Because AA considers these airports "co-terminals", more often than not they put me on the flight I've requested. You just have to be prepared to go on your ticketed flight to your ticketed destination if you don't find a cooperative agent.