Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
Just noted the urgency w/regards to having to be back for an 11/1 meeting; if this is of utmost importance, I would fly back a day early and/or try to fly only on UA metal. It's travel; thinks happen. Recent experiences have shown me I'd much rather be dealing with UA when things happen than with a "contracted" carrier (ie, and very specifically, LH).
Could be that my better experiences with UA irrops is entirely a function of elite status with UA though.
I would keep return routing as clean as possible, but plan for the worst. Have alternatives ready to suggest if things go south. An escape plan, as it were. But more importantly, if it really is so important to have her back in the office on 11/1, shorten the vacation by a day, just in case. Otherwise you might be spending time stressing out over getting back in time, which isn't fun.