Originally Posted by
Aussienarelle
Wow is right. I often find similar pricing (on United) when going to European cities. Unfortunately for me the pricing from SAN rarely works the way you are describing and I either just book the LAX direct flight or book a separate SAN-LAX ticket if it is less expensive (or if uber is the cheaper option use that). Just had this experience trying to book to CDG and it is cheaper to go to LHR and catch the Eurostar. It is all about making it affordable. :-)
Since it is a drive to SAN, does SNA also show similar pricing? Less of a drive.
Pricing is market driven. I haven't looked recently, but in the past it was often less expensive for long-haul flights to book MKE-ORD-XXX that just ORD-XXX, like you're seeing, connecting to the same flight. My technique, which works if used infrequently, was to get a ride to MKE somehow, catch the flight from there to ORD and then just get off the plane at ORD on the return. This doesn't work with checked baggage, but you're going to LIH, what do you have - a couple swim trunks, some shorts and at-shirts?
I'd also recommend checking the SNA pricing to see what that gives.