Originally Posted by seanthepilot
blue0131 ,
As long as you can use the credit in the future, here is your answer.
*Check the fare rules of your current ticket. Most international UA tickets (but not all) have a clause that goes something like this... full credit from unused ticket to a higher priced ticket with no penalty... IF the new fare is a higher price (base fare must be 1 dollar higher or more)
*Book the new cheaper flight (2nd booking)
*cancel the initial reservation
~ now you've got
the lower priced ticket &
a credit from the 1st booking, good for 1 year from issue
Creative thinking. I don't know whether I would elect that strategy myself under OP's circumstances, but I do appreciate having such approaches called to my attention for possible future use.