BTW, what is the difference between a flight cancellation and a schedule change? Strictly speaking my original flight was cancelled and replaced with another. It seems that under the flight cancellation rule I would be entitled to a refund...
In AA parlance there is no difference. A planned change to your itinerary 72 hours+ prior to departure,
including a cancellation of a specific flight, is considered a schedule change. If the change results in delay of 241 minutes or more (or no alternative transportation is offered at all), you are entitled to a refund. A change from a nonstop to a connecting itinerary would also qualify for a refund.
It is a different flight and a different flight number. It's also a commuter airline instead of a mainline jet. But the agent interpreted this as a schedule change and refused to refund it. She said I could take my chances and ask for a refund through the web, which will take two weeks to process.
This is a schedule change, but AA policy does permit permits refunds to original form of payment if there is a change to the operating carrier. You should receive a refund should you choose to cancel your reservation and make a request online, assuming your mainline itinerary was changed to American Eagle.