Cabotage on award tickets
I was browsing through award options for an upcoming itinerary, and noticed that UA.com will sell me an I class award for ZIH-IAH-YYZ-LAX, with an overnight layover in IAH and the last two legs on AC. Has anyone seen a similar award itinerary before, and doesn't this violate cabotage rules? What action, if any, would be taken: (1) after ticketing but before OLCI (assuming it tickets successfully), (2) at the UA check-in counter in ZIH, and (3) at the AC check-in counter or gate in IAH?