I'm flying out of San Diego Tuesday. Our flight leave at 2pm and arrives into Boston at 1:30am. I really don't know what I was thinking when I booked the flight...two kids, 5 and 7, at that hour of arrival is going to be horrid! I can just see trying to carry these two walking down from the gates with the luggage...ugh.

I'm thinking about going to the airpoirt early to see if we can fly standby for an earlier flight that day. I know I *may* end up to have to pay the $50 per person change fee (which I'd love to have a nice agent that decides to not charge us that..but I know that's unlikely.)

I called AA today and they said they don't do stand by at all. You either have to do a same-day change or stick with what you have. Honestly, that didn't make sense to me, but I don't travel as much as I used to, so maybe things have changed.

Soooo...ultimately, my question. Is it worth me going early to attempt? Or was the agent that I spoke with on the phone right, and don't bother. Worst case we're hanging around the airport for a few hours (which I can handle...we could even grab a cab and go out to lunch or something)

what AA is saying is that they don't do the old fashioned standby, where you hang around the gate hoping to get a seat. They will do CONFIRMED new earlier flight for a %$50 PER TICKET.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/sameDayTravel.jsp

Best bet would be to call 12 hours before - what is that, 4 am? Or as close to that as you can and see if you can confirm an earlier flight. If you leave it to the airport it may be hard to get 3 seats...

You may get lucky. I did at LaGuardia flying USAirways. I was ready to handover credit card at airport service desk (after passing security) for my same-day change, but that rookie agent simply found it too much work to collect my money. Saved me $50.

Which flight are you on? There's a flight leaving San Diego at 3.25 that stops in Chicago and continues to Boston (no change of plane). If you're one that flight, even though it arrives late, that's still a good choice, as you don't need to worry about making a connection.

Also, keep in mind that although the flight arrives at 1.30 Boston time, that's 10.30 San Diego time. Still a long day, especially with kids, but less awful than it sounds.

I'm no expert in this particular scenario but the planes I've been one in recent years are always pretty much seated to capacity (or even overbooked). I would definitely not count on going 'stand by' for free.

If you do a same-day change and pay the $50 fee, don't you also have to pay the fare differential?

If you do a same day change and follow the standby rules then there is no fare change

I hope your flight went well!

Regarding what DonTopaz said above about "no change of plane" on a flight from San Diego to Boston that stops in Chicago - You have to be careful with those. I have been on "direct" flights before that DID involve a change of plane/gate, even though the second portion had the same flight number as the first portion.

Also, even if you are continuing on the same plane, the crew might make you get off so that the plane can be cleaned. That might be a hassle if traveling with children.

Cranachin is correct.

Yesterday AA1358 arrived @ ORD from SAN at gate K20, and the same flight number AA1358 departed for BOS from gate K8. Same flight number, direct flight, change of plane in Chicago.