Insight requested: Complex Reward Flight Rules
 

Ok, here's the deal. I've got the honeymoon trip in late May booked and ticketed. Of course, I had to do it a year out, and our plans have changed slightly. So, I'll first explain the situation and then ask for solutions. I had a little over 200,000 NW WP miles, and I needed two premium, standard reward tickets. After weeks of calling, the stars aligned and I got mostly what I wanted on the days I needed. The trip as it currently stands is:

1. SFO-(AMS)-MAD on KLM in WBC / Europe Select (a Monday afternoon departure)
2. CDG-EWR on Continental in BF (a Tuesday morning departure)
3. JFK - SFO on Delta in transcon 1st (a Friday afternoon departure, and I was actually looking forward to seeing their new product)

Now comes the rub. It turns out that my wife-to-be and I will need to be back in Houston (my home location) on Sunday. At the time of booking, we needed to be in SFO on Friday night for my wife's sister's PhD graduation, but now she needs another semester, so we're going to stay in NYC an extra night. So, I've got to pony up the $100 to change my ticket regardless.

The main question becomes, can I just book a NYC-IAH return (standard 1st is available), or am I forced to go back to my city of origin (SFO)? I think I might have used up my open-jaw in the land-at-MAD-leave-from-CDG routing, so please advise.

If I have to go back to SFO, then is it advisable to just cancel the rest of my trip on the Tuesday I land in EWR, so DL has the seats back, or will that mess things up and I should just no-show?

Thanks for the help!

CLG

You do not have to go back to SFO -- finding space will be your only issue.... well and the 100 bucks...

That is indeed incorrect. Called NW, spoke with the agent, and while I was trying to switch it she brought up (without any prompting from me) that I had already used both my open-jaw and stopover. So, I am SOL. Jetblue, here I come...

CLG