Well, I checked for those possibilities before I posted, choosing ludicrously expensive flights (combinations of different airlines), using both simple and advanced search, expert mode and not, logged in as myself and as guest, Netscape and Linux, and Explorer and Windows, and not once did it suggest less expensive alternatives. This is a definite change in behavior as far as I'm concerned (and I use ual.com a lot).

I'd be grateful if someone could give me a scenario that they've checked today that does produce the "less expensive alternative flights" display.