<p>Lovestheheat,</p>
<p>Ignore all of the fearmongering here. It is often much cheaper to book 2 part flights to a regional airport from a major airport with a layover in another major airport than directly between the two major airports. Chicago/Charlotte vs Chicago to Greenville NC or Greenville SC is particularly awful, 220 vs 350. Nonsensical. Layover in Charlotte, an entire additional flight, costs 130-150 less.</p>
<p>The incredible idiocy of the airlines/government’s pricing model is not your problem.</p>
<p>Book two seperate trips. One ticket for the flight there, an entirely new transaction for the flight back. Flight 1 will be A to B to C, Flight 2 will be B to A for the return. Fly From A to B, disembark the plane at B, go on your merry way. They will cancel the remainder of that ticket and negate any miles you wouldve earned. On Southwest, who cares.</p>
<p>When you are ready to return, show up at Airport B with your second ticket in hand.</p>
<p>People do this all the time with absolutely zero consequence.</p>