I booked a return ticket to the US via AA, with the transatlantic legs on BA, the rest on AA. ticket number is a 125 one.

On my return, I was flying via ORD, YYZ to get back, and at the start of my journey was told everything was delayed, so was put on an earlier flight to ORD, but in coach as no 1st available. (My bag stayed on the original flight and made it to ORD, and to YYZ).

I was told I could keep my seat on the later flight in 1st, and miss my connection, or switch to the earlier delayed flight in coach and stand a better chance of making it. Reading the Original Routing Credit thread, looks like AA can be difficult in awarding ORC - is it worth applying, or is it routinely rejected? am guessing any sort of refund is out of the question - given it is just one hop of a much longer journey?