Thanks for the great advice! I called up (took a while on hold, but it's a slowww Tuesday) and was originally told that it couldn't be done, but after a bit of cajoling (and a very frustrating dropped call that meant going back to square one) was able to get two first class seats on the new-service A321 Transcon. Apparently since the original flight was direct and had been changed to a stopover by AA the ruling is that it -can- be changed at zero cost onto a direct one to a nearby airport (i.e. JFK) in the same fare-class. So, instead of an old-style business class seat, we now get a super-sexy lay-flat all bells-and-whistles does-everything-but-darn-your-socks seat. As JonV states there is a risk of a downgrade at the gate, but it's worth it to avoid a 1hr plane change in ORD (where I've been snowed in for 2 days in the past), plus less risk of luggage "misplacement", etc. Even a downgrade to Business wouldn't be too bad (140 TPs vs 120), plus the new seat isn't too bad either. So thanks again all for your advice!!