Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 8,792
Welcome to airline pricing (revenue management) 101, first thing to learn, it will not appear to follow logic and common sense at times. Indirect vs. direct is a definitely a big differentiator. There are others as well, but that's for another time.
If you don't mind the detour, go for it and save a nice junk of $/£/€.