I often have an open jaw trip to Europe which includes a tentative stop. I pay my own ticket and always try to use up miles or get creative with planning. Let me give a specific example. In March 2024, I will be going PHL-LHR-ZAG and returning CDG-PHL. The main trip is for work, PHL-CDG round trip. But for only the cost of a ticket from ZAG to CDG (less than $100), I can add in a stopover in Zagreb for a few days to visit family and friends. The mileage cost of PHL-ZAG is the same as PHL-LHR-ZAG, currently 21,500 miles plus taxes of about $40. If I book it as r/t also returning CDG-PHL, the current r/t total comes to 42,000 miles and about $120 fees. If I book it as 2 one-way fares, PHL-ZAG lists as 21,500 miles and CDG-PHL lists as 26,000 miles. (The total fees remain the same.) That's an increase of 6,000 miles.

My old method has been to book 2 one-way tix. If the Zagreb visit fell through, I could either stay in the UK to visit friends and family, or book a one way to Paris, also less than $100, and simply throw away the BA portion LHR-ZAG. It allowed for a way to have great last-minute flexibility for a pleasure portion which meant a visit to the UK or Croatia almost for free. Also, dropping the BA segment LHR-ZAG never caused any problem. But if I get a r/t ticket and try to drop the LHR-ZAG segment, the return might recalculate and jump way higher. Right now, two one-way tix cost 6,000 more. The return CDG-PHL often sells out in lower mileage; that's why I'm working now on March 2024.

Maybe I'm just trying to squeeze too much out of a mileage ticket (which sounds better than being called cheap/frugal). But a former decade-long strategy seems to have bitten the dust. I'll be working on this over the weekend. I welcome any thoughts; yes, I do realize this is a first world problem! Thanks for any suggestions.