I booked an EasyPass BF IAH-EWR-DEL roundtrip for 300k hoping that some SaverPass availability would open up closer to departure. This is a rare chance for vacation so I had already convinced myself that I'd be okay spending 300k if it came down to that or coach. SaverPass just opened on the outbound for 10/13 today so now I'm looking at the best way to convert and recover 90k (150k down to 60k).

Strategy 1:

- I tried to change it online and it will allow that (note that the flight is a day earlier so it's a real change beyond cost) but it will charge 0k and $50 in change fees. I was hoping it would charge negative 90k and $50. Delta of $50 plus no miles refunded. Fail.

Strategy 2:

- Book the newly available flight independently. That cost me 210k (90k outbound and 150k return) plus a $50 close-in booking fee. Then do a re-deposit on the original for $50. I had the miles to do it so I booked the new flight before it disappeared. Unfortunately I lost first on the EWR-IAH return even though I have it under the original booking. Right now I'm still holding the original booking and I have 24 hours to cancel the new booking. Delta of $100 plus 90k miles refunded plus potential loss of first on EWR-IAH.

Strategy 3:

- Should I be able to just change the outbound on the original flight, keep everything else the same, and still get the refund while paying a $50 change fee? I'm okay with the extra $50 in #2 but feel silly having lost first for the last hop.

The few relevant posts I've found seem to indicate that it's always necessary to completely re-book with fees and all but I wanted to verify.

The 2nd question is that I have a feeling I might be doing this again while in DEL if SaverPass on the way home opens up. I can't re-book it in its entirety since I already flew some of it so how would that work?

Thanks for any thoughts!