(I tried searching this thread for a similar issue but did not find anything).

I am trying to book SFO-MEL roundtrip.

Using the ‘roundtrip’ option, the total GPU-upgradeable airfare is $1876. There is R space SFO-LAX-MEL, but no R space MEL-LAX-SFO.

Using the ‘one-way’ option, the total of two GPU-upgradeable one-ways is a less number at $1808. There is R space is each direction. And, this is for the same flights that were selected during the roundtrip search…!

Is this the new norm for the website to show R space only for one-ways (or only for roundtrips)? Or, is this related to the combinability and/or breaking of fares?

Also, one type of search gives R space results with LONG layovers in LAX, while the other type of search gives R space results with reasonable layovers in LAX. But, my preferred timings were never fully available for combination and selection.

Is the solution to call UA and have them piece together the segments that I really want – and hope that the calculated total falls in line with the other totals?