I eventually got them to cooperate. Your solution would have been ok, but only if one was still willing as I’d have to book one east->west round trip and fly only the first leg and the other west->east (starting after the interview) and fly the first leg of that, because the airline is able to cancel all your remaining legs once you miss a leg.
It seems that might be harder than just telling one of them that I’ll already be in the area on such and such date.
It seems that might be harder than just telling one of them that I’ll already be in the area on such and such date.