I concur, regarding domestic segments of an international itinerary, when all segments are on the same ticket, it shouldn't matter when the domestic segments occur in relation to the international segment.
Regardless, it still might be a tough sell, as compensation for <1K is pretty sparse. Be convincing
Edited to add actual code of domestic downgrade policy linked in an above post:
Code:
S*UAL/DOWNGRADE
DOMESTIC DOWNGRADE POLICY
FOR INTERNATIONAL DOWNGRADE POLICY SEE>S*UAL/INTL-COMPENSATION;
DOWNGRADE POLICY: >S*R.D;
PURCHASED FIRST: >S*R.F;
AWARD TICKET: >S*R.A;
500 MILE E-UPGRADE >S*R.E;
REGIONAL/SYSTEMWIDE >S*R.R;
MILEAGE PLUS MILES >S*R.M;
PAPER CERTIFICATES >S*R.P;
CONNECTING PSGRS >S*R.C;
WHEN AN AIRCRAFT IS DOWNSIZED TO A SMALLER PLANE OR WHEN
UNITED FIRST OR UNITED BUSINESS IS OVERSOLD SOME CUSTOMERS
MAY BE DOWNGRADED AND SEATED IN UNITED ECONOMY.
DIS-SERVICED CUSTOMER WHO ARE DOWNGRADED FROM THEIR
ORIGINAL RESERVATION REQUIRE IN MOST CASES AN ADJUSTMENT
IN THEIR FARE OR A RETURN OF THE PAYMENT USED TO UPGRADE
TO THE HIGHER CABIN. IN SOME CASES ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
IS APPROPRIATE AND CPR SHOULD BE THE TOOL THAT IS USED FOR
THOSE CUSTOMERS.
MILEAGE PLUS CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT GIVE ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION. PLEASE DO NOT REFER CUSTOMERS TO MPLUS
UNLESS DIRECTED TO BELOW. PLEASE DO NOT SET EXPECTATIONS
AS TO THE AMOUNT MPLUS WILL REFUND.
THE FOLLOWING CHART WILL HELP ILLUSTRATE HOW TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR A CUSTOMER THAT IS DOWNGRADED.
- PURCHASED FIRST OR BUSINESS INCLUDING QUP FARES
GIVE THE CUSTOMER A CLASS OF SERVICE ADJUSTMENT FORM
- AWARD TICKET IN FIRST OR BUSINESS
ADVISE CUSTOMER TO CALL MILEAGE PLUS FOR RECREDIT
OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MILEAGE.
THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR BOARDING PASS AVAILABLE
IN CASE MPLUS REQUESTS TO HAVE IT SENT TO THEM.
- 500 MILE E-UPGRADES
ADVISE THE CUSTOMER THAT THE MILES WILL AUTOMATICALLY
RETURNED TO THE MILEAGE PLUS ACCOUNT.
- REGIONAL OR SYSTEMWIDE E-UPGRADES
ADVISE CUSTOMERS ON SINGLE FLIGHTS THAT THE UPGRADE
WILL BE RECREDITED. FOR CUSTOMERS ON CONNECTIONS
PLEASE SEE BELOW.
- MILEAGE PLUS MILES VIA AUTOCERT
ADVISE CUSTOMERS ON SINGLE FLIGHTS THAT THE MILES
WILL BE RECREDITED. FOR CUSTOMERS ON CONNECTIONS
PLEASE SEE BELOW.
- PROMOTIONAL PAPER OR OTHER PAPER UPGRADES
RETURN PAPER UPGRADE IF POSSIBLE. ISSUE A CPR
UPGRADE OF SIMILARY TYPE IF UNABLE TO RETURN THE
ADVISE CUSTOMERS ON SINGLE FLIGHTS THAT THE MILES
WILL BE RECREDITED. FOR CUSTOMERS ON CONNECTIONS
PLEASE SEE BELOW.
- PROMOTIONAL PAPER OR OTHER PAPER UPGRADES
RETURN PAPER UPGRADE IF POSSIBLE. ISSUE A CPR
UPGRADE OF SIMILARY TYPE IF UNABLE TO RETURN THE
ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE.
- CONNECTION CUSTOMERS USING REGIONAL/SYSTEMWIDE/MILES
ISSUE EQUIVALENT CPR E-UPGRADE WHEN THE PASSENGER*S
ITINERARY HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED FOR A MAJORITY OF THE
PASSENGER*S TRAVEL BASED UPON MILEAGE.
NOTE: CONNECTING CUSTOMERS USING SALES UPGRADES MAY BE
GIVEN CPR UPGRADES INTO THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Pat