I have had issues trying to get excursionist perk to work for about a month. Didn't have any issues before then. Have you found an answer?

I am hoping someone can help me out with this. I am trying to book a flight using united miles for the first time. I am trying to book a multi leg trip on united's website. I am trying to book a flight from Grand Rapids, MI to Rome, IT. Then a second leg from Athens, GR to Munich. Finally, a final leg from Munich to Grand Rapids, MI. From everything I have read the middle flight should qualify for zero miles and I should only have just the fees to pay. When I was searching a month or so ago the middle flight was points free but now it wants 45k miles per person for the middle flight.