[fireworks10]

Similarly, https://skiplagged.com surfaces potentially cheaper multi-leg flights that have a layover in your destination city.

For example if you are wanting to travel from A->B, a flight that goes A->B->C may be cheaper than A->B if A->C is a competitive route.

[Analemma_]

This is a dangerous gamble though. Airlines can and do ban people for life when they discover this.

[ghaff]

That is certainly the common wisdom. As is throwing away return legs if a round-trip is cheaper. I've done it at various times for various good reasons--mostly changes in plans. And I doubt anyone is going to get banned for doing it now and then. But if you do it every week? Maybe.

[Scoundreller]

The other gamble being that many airlines oversell flights and may “upgrade” you to a direct flight to your paid destination.

[ghaff]

It's probably not even so much because of overselling which I don't see a lot of these days at least where and when I fly. But, if travel goes sideways because of weather/mechanical issues/etc., as far as the airline is concerned it's the ultimate destination it needs to get you to.