I just used a 60K award from Delta on United for my wife to Hawaii (reserved less than two weeks out). Delta agent originally quoted it at 40K - of course, when we "bought" it, it was 60K. Anyway, one segment was supposed to be in coach on the return. However, a United agent, in HNL booked that segment in NF, not XF and she was in first all the way.
She was also on a 3 class plane in First. I think they are sold as two class. Bottomline - Delta agents not very knowledgable, but United agents very flexible, and my wife had a regular meal, with Sundae from DEN-HNL, not the joke of a snack Delta serves SLC-HNL.
fp