Italy08

We are traveling from MIA to FCO in May 08. What are your suggestions, since we have time, for finding reasonable airfares? So far I see $1000/pp and with 4 of us that is more than I expected. I know AA is having a sale, but there is an overnight in Madrid and we reach Rome in the early evening. Does that sound reasonable?
I would appreciate your expertise!!! Thanks.

fmpden

$1000 fares are not unreasonable. Have to remember fuels prices are high and the dollar is very weak. Would think in May that you could get closed to $800. Have you looked at flying through Atlanta, Washington, DC., New York, etc.

But what is unreasonable is the schedule. Do I understand correctly that you fly to Madrid, then overnight, and don't reach Rome until early evening. I would think you could get a direct flight or a flight with one brief stopover. There is no reason to take two days to get to Rome.

rkkwan

Too early to look for good fare. Wait until late fall or early next year.

Italy08

Sorry, new to these message boards. I think my info wasn't very clear. The flights with 1 stop are $1000.
The flight that is taking two days is on AA. They are having a sale. $675/pp. I just don't know if its worth the hassle of staying overnight in Madrid.

kayd

Most flights from the eastern US to Europe leave in the evening and land in the morning. Thus you should reach Madrid before noon, and have no need to overnight there. Look at that schedule again.
Westbound transatlantic flights generally leave late morning to early afternoon and arrive in the US the same afternoon. Again no need to overnight in Europe mid-trip.

Sign up for email alerts with the major travel sites (orbitz, expedia, etc) and with airlines that fly routes acceptable to you. Watch as fares fluctuate and be prepared to buy immediately when you see a fare-schedule combination that is OK for you. Between Miami and Rome you should look for nonstop or one-stop itineraries. Your connection could be almost any major US or European city depending on the airline you choose. If you want to avoid specific connection airports (JFK, Heathrow and CDG come to mind), rule out the airlines on those routes.

gail

We searched extensively for our dtrs airfare Bos-Madrid (she is there now). $1000 is about what a transatlantic flight in the summer is likely to cost, although I agree it is too early to search for best deal.

You can hope for sales - often on airlines starting a new route or a new airline serving that area.

My personal preference would be to make connection in US rather than in Europe - not based on cost but lifestyle. That way you have the longest flight during your normal sleeping time and arrive in Europe early AM Europe time.

Another strategy would be to search for fares JFK-FCO and then take one of the less expensive US airlines from south Forida to NYC - only problem is that they generally fly into Newark or LaGuardia rather than JFK.

freeman0819

$1000 is the average going rate for May and beyond for next year. If you can get it for $675 each with tax, that's a different of more than $1000, ($1300 to be exzct, right?) It's not going to cost you that much to overnight in Madrid. plus, you can buy a whole lot of "culture"- purses, shoes, pasta, vino?? The plus side of taking the AA option would be another city on your vacation, as well. From MIA to MAD on AA, you are going to get in sometime in the morning. Depending on where you stay in Madrid, you can probably get your hotel to arrange a day tour of Madrid. You'd have a day to get your body clock back on track, try out the local cuisine, and have some extra money in your pocket to spend in Italy.

dutyfree

Personally,its alot easier to just get to your destination in one jump over the pond. From Mia:
-Up to Ord and over to FCO on American
-Up to CVG,ATl or JFK and over to FCO on Delta
-up to EWR and over to FCO on Continental
It sounds so nice to have a day in Madrid but trust me-you just want to get to Rome and not have to do all of the BS with getting back to the airport on time,security,possible cancellations,etc.You lose time,patience and money when you do all of these connections and overnight stays for trying to save money. Do Madrid another trip. Just my thoughts?

Hagan

I'm with most of the other posters - it's way too soon to book now. There will be sales later, probably Alitalia will have some good fares.
Just keep a daily log of fares now, checking sites such as flycheapabroad.com, vayama.com and kayak.com. That way, you'll become familiar with airlines, routes and schedules and you'll be able to recognize a good fare when it comes up.

I'm checking now for fares from Orlando to Rome for next year, just keeping track of fares, and the way they go up and down from day to day is really amazing!
We took our 2 teen grandsons to Rome (and Paris) this past March, so I was looking at fares this time last year. Ended up buying in November, 4 months out. Flew Orlando to Paris (via Atlanta) on AirFrance, stayed 3 nights, then flew to Rome for 5 nights, then back to the states, all for $715 each. I got them on flycheapabroad, and they were at least $250 less than any other site for that route then.

But I wouldn't settle now for a schedule that isn't good, it's too early.
Good luck!

Italy08

I think we will stick to one stop in the US and then on to Rome. It just gets too complicated overnighting in Madrid. We are not experienced travelers. Is it more expensive to fly into Rome and out of Florence or Venice?

rkkwan

Open jaws are priced as the combination of the outbound and inbound flights. Actual price will depend on the dates. But there's no penalty in buying open jaw.

I hope this make sense.

For example, say on 5/3, there's cheap fares US-FCO, then that portion will cost you, say, $450, regardless of where you're returning from.

But say, on 5/12, there's no cheap fare VCE-US. The leg will cost you $700, regardless whether you fly into FCO or VCE.

So, maybe there's cheap fare FCO-US on 5/12. So, it may seem like your open-jaw cost more. Yes, it cost more, but not because it's open-jaw. Just because there's no cheap fare for VCE-US on that day.

dude9465

Best to book now and name your own price on priceline probably around $800 and you will get a ticket