So I have read that the actual rule is that an award has to conform to the maximum permitted mileage limits unless it conforms to a published routing. In other words, a routing has to match one or the other but not both.

Where is the published routing that i can show them to get a route approved?

Can i just go to the flight search section Star Alliance website and type in my departing city and destination and any and all routes that it spits out would be considered a valid route?

Or, are only routes found on United.com valid?