That wasn't where I was heading. AA has an obligation to inform you of schedule changes when you book through AA. If you book thru other parties it's the other (TA, Orbitz...) firm who has responsibility. Award doesn't change AA's notification obligation. IME the notice comes about 30 days before flight. Lots of people in this forum check for schedule changes regularly (obsessively!) A schedule change can provide useful leverage (to cancel something you don't want/without fee, to tune up lousy routings).

The industry convention on notification of schedule changes doesn't extend to type of seat in cabin, however.