United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Newbie: Change routing or swap full fare r/t biz class

Although I've followed this forum off and on for the past year, I am very much a newbie so please forgive my ignorance. Here's my question...

Last month I was gifted a full fare unrestricted round trip business class ticket (NRT-IAD-NRT). Ticket was purchased using credit card through a Japanese travel agent and was paid for in yen. USD value of ticket is approx $12k.

I have already flown the NRT-IAD leg in business class but would like to fly back to NRT through Europe with a 3-5 day stopover In London.

The remaining/unused portion (IAD-NRT) has value of ~$6k, which I would like to swap for IAD-LHR-NRT, which due to additional costs in business class will have to be flown coach instead.

The problem is that the coach ticket will cost less than $6k which - according to United - means that a refund will be due to the person who gifted me the ticket. Since it was a gift from a Japanese counterpart and because it would be rude to "modify" a gift in this fashion, I would prefer that my Japanese counterpart remain ignorant of the change.

The United agent said the only way to achieve this is if the IAD-LHR-NRT ticket cost more than $6k but I thought that the brilliant minds here may know of some other alternatives.

Does anyone know how I can make the return through London without hurting the feelings of my Japanese counterpart?

One way in business IAD-NRT via Europe comes up at around $6500. Can you spring the extra $500?

One way in business IAD-NRT via Europe comes up at around $6500. Can you spring the extra $500?

Great idea. Unfortunately, according to the United rep I spoke with, it would cost an additional $1500+ to do that. For that amount I could take a separate coach round trip to there and still have $500 left over.

I find this interesting. So I'm going to ask my fellow FTers their thoughts.

First, I haven't done it in a while, but there were times BA would take my full fare C Class UA tickets and use them.p on BA flights for same journey. Is this still the case?

Second, the amount doesn't have to be credited to the credit card who gifted the ticket, although it is one option. You can request a credit voucher in the difference to be used at a later date. (Fellow members, am I correct?)

Lastly, I checked and indeed, it is $7500 NRT-LHR-IAD. Have you tried the cost of a RTW ticket? Theres also cheaper cities you can get to and fly out of like SGN. BA in C is $4200 From SGN. NRT-SGN in C is as little as $1K. BKK is same price, about 131,000 baht or $4200 - all in C. I picked random dates. BKK-LHR on the 16th of this month and then LHR-IAD on the 22nd of Aug. NRT-BKK in C starts at $900 and up (I used Hipmunk.com from NRT to SGN & BKK and then BA.com for the rest).

There are so many different ways to make this happen without a hassle.
I am assuming any travel agent or even UA could do it.

I use one of the best travel agents in SE Asia. I'll send you an email and his website - he is a magician. Tell him your situation and see If he can use the ticket for an NRT-BKK-LHR-IAD C class routing.

From what I see, you can get a Star Alliance RTW out of BKK make as many stops as you want even in US and go back to Thailand again...you would have to fly home on your dime though after using up the ticket.

Good luck! Let us know what happens please! Now I am assuming this is a true full-fare C ticket...

UG