Mini-snic (my daughter) and I are scheduled to travel in a few days. Mrs. snic was hospitalized about a week before our departure date. She is out of the hospital now, but weak, and I may need to postpone or cancel the trip so I can care for her.

The fares are nonrefundable S fares, with I think a $200 change fee. They are actually two one-way tickets (because I couldn't get united.com to price it out as a roundtrip, and went the easy route of booking two one-ways instead of calling web support). Anyway, for the two of us, the $800 in change fees would exceed the price I paid for the two tickets.

From this thread I gather I should pay the change fees, then ask for a refund of the $800 (less a $50 per ticket fee).

1. Is needing to stay home to care for a recovering spouse a valid basis for the fee refund request? What documentation will UA want?

On the refund web site it says "If you have an immediate family who is sick: Please provide the name, address and telephone number of the hospital where they are admitted and the name of their doctor." But she is no longer hospitalized. Would a doctor's note saying she was in the hospital a week ago and needs at-home care now suffice?

2. Any way to get them to reduce the $50 per ticket to $50 per round trip?