Based on OP's LY status I guessed that it was a fare from Israel, and it looks like the change fee matches most flexible fares from Israel. Below is the full text of the Section 31 rules for (as an example) ULRFILW from TLV to SFO on January 15th. As I suspected, some of the conditions allow for free changes while others require a change fee (emphasis mine) ... but have fun parsing all the boolean logic:
Code:
IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
CHARGE USD 240.00 FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL
CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CHILD DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO
FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND
REPRICE USING CURRENT FARES - ONLY BOOKING CODE
CHANGES PERMITTED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
3. CHANGE IS ON/BEFORE DAY OF ORIGINAL SCHEDULED
FLIGHT
4. UA FARES ARE USED
5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - NEW ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
CHARGE USD 240.00 FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL
CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CHILD DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO
FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES ARE USED
2. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
3. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW
ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE CHARGE HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED
FARE COMPONENTS AND
ONLY REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE IF RESULTS
IN VALID SOLUTION
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON/FARE BREAKS
2. SAME FARE ON 1ST FARE COMPONENT IS USED
3. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
4. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES GOVERNED BY SAME RULE
ARE USED
5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG
7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW
ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE CHARGE HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED
FARE COMPONENTS AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA U- FARE FAMILY IS USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
OR -
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES ARE USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS
TKT
6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
OR -
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
3. ANY CARRIER FARES ARE USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS
TKT
6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW
ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE CHARGE HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED
FARE COMPONENTS AND
ONLY REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE IF RESULTS
IN VALID SOLUTION
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS
2. SAME FARE ON 1ST FARE COMPONENT IS USED
3. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
4. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT
5. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES GOVERNED BY SAME RULE
ARE USED
6. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
7. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG
8. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW
ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN
BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE CHARGE HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED
FARE COMPONENTS AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT
3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA U- FARE FAMILY IS USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
OR -
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT
3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES ARE USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS
TKT
6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
OR -
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL
MUST BE DOMESTIC
2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT
3. ANY CARRIER FARES ARE USED
4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS
TKT
6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL
FROM THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND
ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW
ENDORSEMENTS.
I didn't spend too much time with it, but basically it looks like there is no change fee as long as there is no change to the first flight. (All of the conditions for "Before Departure" with no charge require no change to the first flight coupon, and the "After Departure" section implicitly assumes that at least one segment is flown.)