can you explain why airlines do this? I want to book a flight thru Aeroplan to go Biz class from Tokyo NRT to LAX. It shows nothing available on the date I want to travel. Same with NRT to SFO. However, if I want to book a flight on the same day from Tokyo NRT to Salt Lake City, it will let me book it with two stops – flight would go from NRT non-stop to LAX, then onto to SFO, then to SLC. WHY? Obviously there is a seat available from NRT to LAX if that is the first leg of the flight that will ultimately land me in SLC. I want to check my bag, so booking it and then just getting off at LAX and blowing off the other flights is not an option. Do you know why airlines do this and is there a work-around? Flight is from NRT to LAX on All Nippon 5 hour layover and then the flights to LAX-SFO and SFO to SLC are on United. Would I have to retrieve my checked luggage in LAX before I would need to (allegedly) get on the other flights?