Well this wasn't a complete loss.
After a lovely LAX-HKG flight over on AA in which I was able to upgrade to J I headed to my favorite lounge in the world.
In the Pier FC I asked the CX Agents about changing to an earlier flight and they told me I had to call AA as it was a AA-issued ticket--meaning call and pay any fare difference, blahblahblah.
They literally wouldn't do anything.
So, I spent 11 hours in the Pier FC and I enjoyed every second.
Also, Y was oversold and I got upgraded to PE on the HKG-CGK flight.
So all in all.....zero complaints.