This startred of as a post in the ITA section of "miles" but think the outcome now belongs here. It seem the airlnes are using credit card tactics to make all kinds of extra charges/ rules to increase income.
I purchased a flight where the return is from Bari connecting in Rome to LAX. Turns out friends will be in Rome at the time (3 months from now) so I will take the train Bari-Rome one day earlier and then take the same Rome-Lax flight. In other words, all I want to do is cancel the Bari-Rome leg. Called OTA and they said it will cost me $740 a ticket. The claim they must cancel and then repurchase the return flight,

Is there any reason other than greed that they have to do it this way? I admit, I purchased the saver ticket which said changes were possible, but still?