A businessman friend is able to price out on co.com IAH/VIE and MAD/IAH. He would like to get a flight from VIE to MAD on Air Europa (a CO partner but not a code share flight)) which is pricing now at $92.70 and spend a few days in MAD before going back to IAH.
If one attempts to get VIE/MAD via co.com using multiple destinations, it wants to route one to MAD via EWR!
In viewing an older thread it was suggested that by calling the co.com technical support desk, they can add the VIE/MAD AE flight to the itinerary and therefor the complete trip would be issued as one e-ticket.
Can anyone confirm that this is still the correct/cheapest/most efficient procedure?

It is only any of the above if your friend NEEDS a single ticket. If there are going to be days at either end in VIE and MAD, they probably don't need a single ticket, as misconnects and other issues are probably less likely. It is probably the cheapest, but you have to know going in what the o/w VIE-MAD would cost plus the open jaw and then find out wht CO will charge you for the circle trip. Finally, if the TATL flights are of a low fare class then calling direct to start will net 50% EQMs. Instead, your friend would need to start the booking online and then call the online service center and have them add the middle segment so as to retain the online-ness of the ticket and the 100% EQMs associated with that.

So yes, your analysis is mostly correct, but I would probably end up with two tickets - one for the CO and one for the VIE-MAD, as I'd rather have two receipts than deal with people in booking my trip.

S.