Is there anyway to manage a stopover on a domestic ticket? I've done it before with AA, but was amazed UAL didn't do it.

I'm looking to do

NYC to Denver

Denver to Chicago

Chicago to NYC

I figured since Denver and Chicago were both hubs it wouldn't be an issue... anyone know if there's any way to get around this? I was going to use a 25,000 mile award ticket.

IIRC, you can do an open jaw on a domestic saver award ticket but no stopover. You are allowed one stopover on a standard (40K) domestic award ticket.

The other option would be to use the 25K award for an open jaw (NYC-DEN, ORD-NYC) and use a one-way ticket on any carrier from DEN-ORD (or DEN-MDW if that's more convenient).

Thanks. I just called United and they said the only thing I could do is NYC-DEN, DEN-ORD, then buy my ORD-NYC ticket. What I really want to do is use the mileage for NYC-DEN, then ORD-NYC, so I can take the train from Denver to Chicago.

But according to the MP rules, the mileage plus ticket only covers whatever the longest segments are and they won't make an exception. Forget the fact that ORD-NYC is only about 100 miles less than DEN-ORD.

I'm really frustrated because this seems like something that they should be able to bend on, especially since I'd be flying on a shorter segment.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it worth calling back till I get a new answer or asking for a supervisor, or if it's a set rule then it's a set rule?