OK -- here's the deal:

I just started a new job and I will be commuting MSP-BUF on a weekly basis for six months to a year. I pay for the tix out of my own pocket.

There aren't many deals with NW in/out of MSP.

I find that if I book, say, out on Friday and return, not the following Monday, but the Monday after that (and then buy tix BUF-MSP for the in-between Monday returning the Friday after that), I can cut the price down quite a bit.

Not sure if this is called split ticketing or back-to-back ticketing or what, but whatever it's called, I understand the airlines frown on the practice.

Does anyone have any experience with NW and how they treat this sort of thing? I realize I can minimize my chances of trouble if I book the itins on different airlines. If I choose, say, CO, and have the miles applied to my World Perks account, will that raise a flag?

If anybody knows of a better (cheaper) way to commute MSP-BUF, I'd sure like to know about it.

Thanks.