Stop-overs when schedule is first opened
 

Hi,

I'm a bit new at working the ins and outs of UA award travel to the max. I understand that UA allows me a stopover only a round trip ticket. What are the intricacies of booking this when seats are first opened for sale? (I.e., I'm trying to travel on July 10, with a stopover in NRT. I want to return on Aug 19, but seats aren't opened for booking yet.) If I see the space on my stopover and want to grab it, what's the best thing to do? Do I book the outbound the way I want it with a return the next day, knowing that I will change it later? If I want to change the operating carrier on the return, will I have to pay a fee? (The fee table suggests I will... note that I'm a general member, no status to get anything waived.) Is there a way to secure the outbound stopover space without getting into fee trouble later? Or, if I want to avoid fees, do I wait until the return space becomes available and then I just take my chances with the outbound space?

Thanks.

Award tickets are not always released 330 days (or so) out from departure. Try not to get your hopes up.

Where is your ultimate destination/how long is your stopover? The award space probably won't disappear instantly (if it appears at all). I would probably wait a few days and book everything in one go rather than make repeated changes (just from the effort of calling the phone agents, explaining everything, hoping they don't mess up your existing segments, etc.).

True, but I can plan early and have flexibility, so if I find space I want, I'm in a position to grab it.

Hm. I'm looking at a +/- 2 weeks for a stop over and +/- 2 weeks at my destination. Ultimate destination is likely SIN... probably going to buy a separate ticket to MLE. The wife and I would like to spend some time in Japan as part of this trip.