Well here is an update. I called AA and was told there would be a change fee...actually called multiple times to see if a new supervisor would take pity on us. smile NOPE...so we will not be checking a bag and I paid a little extra to get seats in the 5th row once we arrive to Phili. to get off the plane fast. In tracking some of the other flights -it seems doable if there isn't a delay! Guess we will roll the dice and find out. We leave the end of July, I'll report back. Thanks for the responses.