Originally Posted by
lhrsfo
Precisely, but I would add that it is also done very specifically to enforce the Saturday night stay rule. If you don't stay a Saturday night, you are judged a business traveller and, as such, your company will pay more. The fares can be about 3 times as much if there's no Saturday night stay - and, if you could simply buy two one ways, then AC, and others, would lose that premium. The great majority of businesses don't force their staff to fly LCCs on long haul, so there hasn't yet been pressure to change the rule.
Of course the easy work around, if you can plan in advance, is to be phase-shifted and book flights say Europe-Canada-Europe.
Now working on a Dec. return and following trip in February...
(Makes it interesting though if I am phase-shifted but my wife who often flies on rewards, is not...)