Originally Posted by
flyerCO
AA allows to change by one day when they make a schedule change. They also will allow you to overnight at connection point if there's no more valid connections that night AND you take first onward flight next day. Point the latter out as it makes for a cheap stopover if wanted.
AA is very inconsistent and often depends on the agent you get. I have been allowed to change my travel to a week later after a schedule change but then again, it helps to have top tier status with AA.
Regardless, in this case as others already pointed out, the OP does qualify for a refund due to the change being a connecting flight from an original non-stop one.