I booked an award ticket for my friend through the 1K desk and they said there was no fee. Then when I went to the airport (SFO) the next morning to sign for the ticket and approve the mileage deduction they insisted that I had to pay the fee. I explained that I was 1K and that the 1K desk had checked and the fee was waived. The pulled up the fare rules and it is ambiguous. The manager came over and explained that it wasn't in their power to waive the fee and there was no way he could do it. (Both the manager and agent were very nice and cordial). I explained my position and called the 1K desk. They went around and around on the fee and finally the manager told the 1K desk that if they put a note in the PNR to waive the fee he would do it. I looked at the fare guidelines with the agent and I have to admit it is very ambiguous. It states more clearly that the fee is waived for all passengers when the 1K is on the same PNR. If the 1K is not on the PNR it implies the fee should be charged. I could see the gate agents point. I was more disturbed by the fact that the 1K desk had already told me otherwise. They ended up waiving the fee and I made my flight. I think everyone handled themselves professionally and did their job based on the guidelines (and poor direction from United Corp) that they had been given. There are two different fare guidelines that you could refer to in this case. Both are ambiguous. I have no complaints with the SFO employees who helped me.