Originally Posted by
TOMFORD
NH wouldn't return the award to UA? I also see lots of USA-TYO flights on VS one week out from now... so I'm guessing that will probably be the best bet.
There is never any guarantee that a cancelled award returns to inventory, or to the same inventory. It can go to the award pool restricted to ANA elite members, there could be a waitlist to clear, it could not go back to award inventory at all. It is always a risk to cancel an award if you want to book it again.
If there are other flights that does the trick maybe just book one of these.