Oh boy, more wacky UA-vs-AC pricing.

So, I need to do another YOW-MSP run next week. The best available routings are all ticketed through UA, but largely flown on AC metal.

The cheapest routings are all either YOW-YYZ-MSP-YYZ-YOW, or YOW-ORD-MSP-YYZ-YOW, and generally come in at $450-500 when ticketed on UA, or $900-950 when ticketed on AC.

Now, the fun part; I'd really like to stop in Toronto for a day or two on the way back, since my return flight is already putting me at Pearson regardless of fare or carrier.

...but if I try to price out YOW-YYZ-MSP // MSP-YYZ // YYZ-YOW as a multi-city itinerary, the best price anyone will give me is north of $1100.

I really don't want to fly back to Ottawa, then get right back on a flight to Toronto, and I really don't want to simply "miss" my YYZ-YOW leg on the return, partly as it's dishonest but more because it's the kind of thing that can get a guy flagged.

So... do I have options here?

I could definitely get to Pearson and "suddenly" decide to pay to change my flight, but best-case I'd still be looking at a $200 change fee plus the fare difference, which is likely to cost the same as simply buying a YOW-YYZ round-trip.

Anyone?