I called AA, and asked to get a seat near the front of the plane. They wouldn't do that, but they switched me to an earlier flight out of LaGuardia. It leaves an hour earlier, and so there is a much more layover time. I am much more comfortable with that, there was no charge, and so I'm happy. Not happy that I bought a nonrefundable JFK Airport hotel, but I'm switching gears, and will stay in the city for the night and get some sort of transport to LaGuardia at 3am.