Originally Posted by
miklcct
I will be happy to do a cheap positioning flight is the difference in total mileage is similar, but I will never do a positioning flight in the opposite direction to my destination, and no one can me do a positioning flight which will eventually fly me back to the origin. Under your circumstances there is NO WAY I will position from AMS to ARN to only connect back to AMS, even if the ARN - AMS - SJO is free. Instead I will choose other routing (a cheaper non-direct flight from AMS-SVO with similar total mileage, e.g. connect via the U.K. or the eastern U.S.), or a lower class of service on the direct flight).
Appreciated, I was just trying to illustrate the random pricing that airlines do where flying more will potentially cost you a lot less. Ultimately it's up to the individual as to whether the cost difference is worth the extra time.