travellover: Beware of the "real" back to back tickets. All the bad things you stated can, and have, happened! Plus if you have a corporate travel department, they may also be miffed.

Solid advice can be found on this site, and some of the people are almost always correct, but beware of differences regionally and in various countries.

I have flown on such a ticket a couple times in the past. I only used half of each ticket , as I could not coordinate another trip. The fare was less than $680 for the two sets of tickets to DC on the last trip vs. $1250 for the last minute, no Saturday full coach ticket alternative. Our accounts noticed the transaction and jumped all over me! Fortunately, I had stapled the other 1/2 's to my expense account. They thought I might be benefiting in some way!!! As if it mattered, them saving $600! So I stopped. I was luck to not get "caught" by the airlines. They pick you out when you are a no show on a leg.