Let me chime in since I'm the OP. The original flight was at 11:18 am when I booked the award tickets. That meant getting up at a reasonable hour and having breakfast and getting to the airport at about 9:30 am. Even with the layover of 5 hours in ORD, we would be okay. We were in the flagship lounge and we could occupy ourselves for the time.

Now we have to get up at 4 am and get to the airport at 5:30 am for a 7:18 am flight.
Yes, we have GE and TSA Pre Check. But no time for breakfast and getting to ORD dead tired, who wants to go into Chicago. Flight only serves a refreshment, whatever that is??? I have been there a few times on business years ago, but not that familiar with the city. DH hasn't been there in years. We also have carryons. Not sure if the lounge would let us leave our bags there.

Maybe we would be more amenable to going into Chicago if we would be able to get up at a more reasonable hour. But after getting up in the middle of the night we are not going to feel like touring! Plus we have an 8 hour flight ahead of us.

That's what I am complaining about.

I have tried again and they will not open up two award seats out of MIA. I don't know what hoops I have to jump through to do this without forking over 140K miles each.

Leaving from SAV will not work as we will be returning to JAX and that is where our car will be.
Terri