Airline fares - a black box!

Since I returned from my trip to Italy with Ruth, I have been looking at airline fares to South America:

3.1 - 28.1.2024: 2 weeks Ecuador (EC) and 2 weeks Colombia (CO).

My intended itinerary: 

3.1. ZRH- BOG-GYE

15.1. UIO-MDE

28.1. CLO/BOG-CTG-ZRH

(ZRH - Zurich; BOG - Bogota (CO); GYE - Guayaqil (EC); UIO - Chito (EC); MDE - Medellin CO); CLO - Cali (CO); CTG - Cartagena (CO))

At first I wanted to book:

a) ZRH-BOG-ZRH

b) BOG-GYE

c) UIO-MDE

d) CLO-BOG

(each letter stands for a booking/ ticket)

Then I searched further and now I have booked:

a) ZRH-BOG-GYE  / CLO-CTG-ZRH

b) UIO-MDE

>>>  the result: the second option is about 25% LESS expensive then the first one!

Same airlines / same days / same booking class / same fare conditions...

Can anyone explain???

Arosa: Föhn

I'cant remember ever having seen a gust >200 km/h on top of the Weisshorn...

Arosa

Tue (17.10.) First a visit to Medergen in order to make our hut 'secure' for the coming winter. At that time the sky looked still rather 'blue'...

Later I flew from Weisshorn, but unfortunately the sky had become more covered by high cirrus clouds. These clouds virtually 'killed' all thermals, as otherwise conditions would have been pretty promising for a nice flight. But it was only to be a slightly extended sledder...

Golf course

Isla - my LZ

Mte. Generoso

Mon, 2.10. With Ruth, Edith and Valentino we visited Mte.Generoso, where we also had lunch. Instead of taking the cog-wheel train back to Capolago, I used the opportunity for a flight from Mte.Generoso. Last time I have flown here: 1996...

Pano looking NW: Mte.Rosa (left), Melide (center) Mte.Lema (right)

(cog-wheel train: Capolago-Mte.Generoso) Building: architect: Mario Botta

launch: pano looking East

Mte.Generoso (1701m)

LZ at Capolago: 'behind' big building (with windsock)

Flight time: 1hr - as I could find some (weak) thermal above 'Sao Nicolao' :-)