Not sure if this has been covered in the massive number of replies before, I certainly didn't spot it. This should help those of us who bought this fare using Expedia. This applies to the first class tickets.

Online, CX will let you change precisely nothing and direct you back to the OTA or TA where you bought the ticket. The same policy applies if you call them at the US toll free number. I did.

For those who booked via Expedia, if you try make a change online, the website will provide you with fare differences ranging from $9K to $11K USD depending on the date. So, I called Expedia and I was able to change my return flight back to SFO. The original date was Oct 19, I was able to change it to mid-November for the $100 change fee. Took a long time .... about 45 minutes all in, worth it to me.

P.S. I do have the Flyertalk luggage tag on my carry on, that fellow FT-er blueline7 gifted me at an Amanjunkie do, so if we're on the same CX flight, say Hello and lets clink those flutes of Krug! :-)

Cheers all!