Changing from Mainline to RJ
 

AA has done this to me twice in the past year, booked PHX - DEN and PHX - STL on A319/A320 and a few months later, they switch to ERJ-175 without notice. I've had bad RJ experiences and due to PTSD try to avoid flying in them.. I moved up to FC and was able to make it work,along with a few Zolft, but would prefer I didn't have to medicate to fly.

All I ask is if they change metal, especially that far in advance to notify the booked passengers and provide options for them to change. If I had known, changed my return DEN flight (which was over the Rockies during a thunderstorm and let's just say I am still shaken). You notifiy us even time the schedule changes by 1 minute, it woudl be a nice to let us know months ahead of time if you change the aircraft to an RJ. I know I must sound like a whimp, but some life / death experiences aren't easy to just walk away from.

Setting aside the fact that notifications about changes from AA leave a lot to be desired, a change like this entitles you to pick a different option at no cost. First, find whatever alternative you want, then call in and have them switch you to that option (just be sure to keep it the same day of travel with the same origin/destination airports). While most agents will do this easily, some may push back. If anyone refuses to do so, politely end the call and then call back in to speak to someone else.

Also, while switching has no cost to you, if the price difference of the new flights is LESS than what you originally paid, just switch the flights online and you'll receive a Trip Credit for the price difference.

You can cancel for a full refund due to change of carrier, if you prefer.

Have you been on an E170 or just the smaller E145/CR2? The E170s feel like mainline planes -- and, in fact, planes in that seating range used to be mainline planes back in the day (F28, F100, smaller DC-9s, etc.).

Regardless, as others have said, changing the operating carrier entitles you to a refund or to change to alternate flights.

Technically, DOT only requires that they issue a refund of ticket upon request. They don't necessarily have to accomodate you with a different routing option at no cost.

E170/5 are some of the best rides, domestically. I'd almost consider that a win, although you may lose hot catering, if your flight qualified for meals. That's about the only downside I can think of.

Add me to the list of those who view going from an A319 to an E175 as an improvement.

E175s are way ahead from the standpoint of upgrade chances, and the F seats don't wreck my back the way that the F seats do in all of AA's mainline narrow bodies. I'm curious what could have happened to make to OP want to avoid the RJs. A rough flight? Regional flights more likely to cancel or be late? Bad service? Bad meal? (All of which can be true.)

The app Flighty will notify you if the specific operating plane registration changes (and hence you can see a change in plane type). Not sure how long in advance of the flight that generally happens. I tend to see it on the few days leading up to the flight. Maybe that would help?

I've found Flightly is not very good at catching aircraft changes until close to the flight time, although generally it's a great app.

They flew on a CR2 :D

In my opinion; E170s are FAR superior comfort levels compared to A319/A320/A321 (ok, maybe the A321 NEO is better...)
I'd go E170s any day over mainline

My two cents...

I too prefer the E175s over most mainline narrowbodies, but PTSD isn't rational. If the OP has PTSD over the RJs (and who wouldn't over a CR2 or E145), it's not something he can control.

But usually do, unless you get a newbie stickler reading from script

If you think RJs are bad, I used to fly on Beech C99s and 1900s in and out of Denver. I once had turbulence so bad on final approach that I actually thought I was going to crash and die. Needless to say, I do not miss turboprop planes AT ALL.