Thanks, Dave.

Actually, everything's gone as well as could be expected. I was over in the USA on a Star Alliance award which, in theory, isn't changeable, but UA didn't make any objections whatsoever to my coming home a month early. I booked a flight back to the USA and a friend gave me a Sweet Spot to upgrade it with, which was also very nice. The return trip to Australia is still in Y+ for now, unless I find another Sweet Spot donor, but I'll survive.