Why are NYC -> TYO tix 2x the cost of NYC -> MNL tix which connect in TYO?
For the past few years I've traveled from NYC -> TYO in the late fall (Nov) and found tickets around $1200. They are usually $2000 in busier travel seasons. I am looking at tix now and they are all $2000 currently for November. Maybe they will drop significantly in price at some point? That is not my main question though. If I look at NYC -> MNL flights for the same dates which stopover in Tokyo (NRT) they are literally 1/2 the price ($1000). No idea why this is - but could I book a round trip NYC -> MNL, get off @ NRT on the way there and then book a 1-way ticket (which I can get for 17k points) from Tokyo to Manila to fly home from there? I assume to make this work I would have to do carry-on only. Would Delta flag this type of itinerary in advance, knowing I was skirting their weird double-price tickets for flights going through the same airport (and not even as far)?