Thanks for the thoughts. I guess there is no clear cut way to do this. Even UA answers in so many different ways (and usually that's good). Can't cancel any part of the trip as its a thru-fare, no stopovers and this XF involves a connecting city. Thus, I expect no residual value. And, I definitely don't know any one in this foreign country where this XF award starts. I do have status, and typically UA bends over
to accomodate, so, maybe its time to rub the rabbit foot once again. If I do end up in coach, twas only a year ago that I was a regular there so hey, no biggie. Waaaahhhhhh.