standby for earlier flight on AA award tix
 

I hold a AA award tix from YYZ-JFK-HKG with an overnight stay in JFK.
My reservation is on CX831 from JFK-HKG. I'd like to get on the earlier flight
CX841 hence, the overnight in JFK instead of same-day connection.
I'm assuming that my baggage will be check through to HKG upon check in at YYZ since my layover is less than 24 hours. If so, perhaps I should travel without checked bag to optimize my chance of getting on the earlier flight.

I'm not sure you can do standby as an AA Award. Surprisingly my parents did it with KA J PEK-HKG on my AA miles earlier this month. But officially, I don't think you can, you can however change for free though whenever the inventory opens provided your routing stays the same. So keep an eye on CX award booking engine.