I'll add a final observation - and then I promise not to post to this thread ever again.

I've also found that Z's will pop up, well inside the 50 day window, and without a 7 day stay, if you book via the UA Vacations site and book a hotel in conjunction with the flight.

It's even possible to book the hotel for only a portion of your trip (say the first night or the last night) and get a beneficial fare.

The choice of hotels can be quite limited - and never includes anywhere I'd usually stay, but the fare falls by half.

BTW - I do agree that the fare rules pretty much put the penalty where it's intended . . . need a walk up fare with teh flexibility to stay a day later or come home two days earlier . . . sorry, no discount for you.

I'm fortunate in that some of my trips are tied to trade shows where I absolutely know the dates won't change and I usually have to be there in advance for meetings / set-up anyway . . . so the Z's just sort of happen.