I typically fly 2-3 a year TYS-VIE to see my folks. I'd really need to fly to SLD or BTS, which are closer than VIE to where my folks live, but SLD and VIE have very limited service by OK.

This year I decided that I'd really try to do TYS-SLD or TYS-BTS on SkyTeam airlines, but making sure NW/KL was transat. No luck, it was pricing out at $2500 as full fare. In the process I learnt not to trust Expedia and Orbitz that the fare is really available if it says it is, because it is not until one clicks "Purchase" button and the fare comes back as purchased.

To make a long story short, in the end I decided to go for TYS-VIE once again. But it was pricing at $750plus for the days that I wanted. But I had this PD-970 that was saying $399 + fees and taxes from the East Coast to EU. I also knew from prior talking to NWA CSRs (about TYS-SLD) that DTW/MEM/MSP-AMS was almost sold out on the dates I wanted to fly, but DTW-FRA was somewhat emptier.

So, at nwa.com I plugged in TYS-DTW-FRA-AMS-VIE an back VIE-TYS and what a surprise: total $510 = promised $399 plus fees and taxes.

So, sometimes it takes flying to FRA first, instead of AMS, to get a cheaper fare

Just thought I let you guys know as this type of "creative thinking routing" can help someone save some monies in the future...