This is one of those "pick up the phone and call...." moments.

Last year I called DL and booked MCO-ATL-CDG, CDG-ATL. Agent was able to book MCO-ATL in "cheap"fare and ATL-CDG in M, allowing me to use my PMU. Saved me money over booking everything in M and allowed it all to be on one ticket in case of "issues"

Yes, it costs you something but the savings were more then the "cost". Not to mention it was really nice when my ATL - MCO flight was running late to know that DL had everything on one record and would "hopefully" protect me on a later flight. (For the record, I sprinted through ATL and made my inital flight so didn't get to deal with the protection issues)