Double checking this plan--nested ticket?
 

I'm booked CLE-NRT-CLE on a complicated ticket on CO. I need to get to CLE from MEM.

1. Can I book an award ticket MEM-CLE-MEM on CO without creating problems for myself? (Going to CLE a day before the CLE-NRT start.) From what I read, it seems to be legitimate routing, but I'd like to make sure. I get confused on nested, end-on-end, etc bookings.

2. I didn't look at the fare rules when I booked it and now I can't find a way to get to them. There is one segment that is an S; the rest are Ls. How can I access the fare rules? (I've looked both at the reservation and the receipt and see only a note on Fare rules, but it doesn't have the complete fare rules or a link that I can see.)

3. I would like to book CLE-MEM on the same day I get to CLE from NRT. If the flight is late, what are the consequences? (Or how easy is it to change an award ticket?)

Thanks. Y'all are really helpful.

Sorry that I do not have the answer, but your post brought up a question for me.

Don't understand what a nested ticket is.

Hoping when people reply to you that someone could spell that out.

I am learning quite a bit since joining FT. Thanks in advance.

1. Nested routing is MEM-CLE -NRT- CLE-MEM, which is perfectly fine in CO's T&Cs. If you have MEM-CLE -MEM -CLE-MEM, that's what back-to-back routing is called, and it may be illegal because CO just doesn't allow back-to-back routing to possibly get away with fare restrictions including min. stay or max. stay, or anything else.

2. You can go to 'advance' at the bottom of the search engine, click whatever you want for the fare rules. In your case, you can type 'L' in the blanket of what fare types you want to specify.

3. As a PLT, I don't think you will have much trouble, but technically it's illegal to get away with the minimum connection time defined by CO. However, if you go to President's club, they should be able to help you out to get the next flight out from CLE back to MEM. Just tell them you are late for the flight CLE-MEM.

Thanks for the quick, helpful reply. I'll keep in mind the minimum connect times.

As y;)u will be on two separate tickets, you must be aware of the fact that a misconnect could cause your missed itinerary to be cancelled.

Yep, I'm going in the day before on the MEM-CLE-MEM leg. Coming back, I figure I can rebook the CLE-MEM leg or just buy another award ticket.

On the way back, if you miss, you only have one short domestic segment to worry about. Agents at CO are usually reasonably good about rebooking if their ;)wn airline causes the misconnect and yoy miss the flight on a second ticket.

is there only 1 flight that goes CLE-MEM after you arrive back into CLE from NRT? and are you checking any bags?