Be careful when using Google Flight, last time I checked they use significantly less margins between flights so it’s shorter trips but much riskier.
If you use the same airline they will make sure you get to the destination.
I have typically used this strategy when flying back to the US from the EU. Take an EZJet or similar low cost airline from random small EU city to a larger EU city like Paris, London, Frankfurt, etc... and book the return trip to the US from the larger city. I've also been forced to do this from some EU cities since there was no connecting partner with a US airline.
* UA or Lufthansa round trip (single carrier) $3K
* UA round trip SFO - Paris + Aeroflot round trip Paris - Moscow: $1K
No amount of search could reduce the gap. I went with the second option. The gap is even bigger if you have a route with multiple segments.
To anyone from airtreks, I love you so much!
Depending on the definition of "tight" each of us have. I remember having 40mins in Munich, and that is a BIG airport. Especially if you disembark on one side of the terminal and your flight is on the far/opposite end. That's 25-30mins brisk walking. With 5000 people in-between you could as well miss your flight. No discussion about stopping to get a coffee or a snack.. you'll miss your flight.