The high-pressure feedwater (HPFW) heater is one of the main auxiliary equipment in thermal power plants, and the configuration of the bypass for the HPFW heater has a significant impact on the safety and economy of the power generation unit. In this study, with a focus on an ultra-supercritical double reheat unit with parameters of 35.5MPa/616℃/631℃/631℃ and a back pressure extraction steam turbine (BEST) cycle reheating system, various aspects of the HPFW heater bypass, including the bypass configuration, bypass operation mode, heater removal conditions, and economic comparison, were analyzed based on the variable operating conditions theory. After the cutoff of the HPFW heaters, there was a noticeable increase in the heat consumption of the unit, leading to a rise in coal consumption for power generation. In the case of a complete cutoff of the HPFW heaters, the unit load needed to be restricted to 40% or lower to ensure the safe and stable operation of the unit. For the three-three grouping cutoff scheme of the HPFW heaters, the unit load must be restricted to 75% or lower for stable operation. The two-two grouping cutoff scheme for the HPFW heaters could guarantee the safe and stable operation of the heater cutoff conditions while maintaining full load operation. The BEST cycle reheating system was characterized by its complex configuration and numerous equipment. The start-up, operation adjustment, and control of HPFW heater cutoff conditions, as well as the operation under special conditions, involve a multivariable coordinated control process.