I will be traveling from the US to Italy next April, returning in mid May. I am looking at flights on BA with a flight change at LHR. I would love to stop in London for a couple of days on the way home. When I put in a multi destination route, on one ticket, it is about $500 more when this stop is included. Any advice on how to work this?

Not sure what you are asking. Stopovers for a few days usually cost more then if you were doing just a connecting flight through London on your way to Italy.

Please clarify what info you are seeking.

I'm asking about stopping over for a couple of days in London. Not a connecting flight.

There's really nothing you can do about this. A trip with a stopover almost always costs more than one with a simple connection. The UK also levies an air passenger duty on flights originating there. The minute you break your journey like this, that's what the London-home leg becomes.

If you could reverse things and fly into London and back from Italy (make it an "open jaw" itinerary) you could avoid the UK departure tax ("air passenger duty") that can add a substantial amount to the ticket. One-way flights from the UK to Italy are inexpensive, and by spending a few days in the UK on arrival, you wouldn't have to worry about connecting flights on arrival.

I'd book open jaw into London and home from Italy. Stay a few days in London then fly easyJet from London to Italy. Much cheaper.

The tax goes up markedly for longer flights. You'd pay a relatively small amount on a UK-Italy flight. It would be a lot more on a UK-USA flight. So Gardyloo's suggestion for breaking your journey on the way to Italy will cost you a lot less.

Thanks everyone! Sounds like I need to look into Easy Jet or other such flights to get me from London to Rome. I love London so much I can't bear to be so close and not stop!

<i>...I need to look into Easy Jet or other such flights to get me from London to Rome.</i>

Any of the majors are pretty inexpensive, too, e.g. BA for US$130.

My last easyJet from LGW to Venice was about $58. Would assume to Rome would be in the same ballpark. But as Gardyloo says most any will be pretty inexpensive if you book far enough ahead.

For European budget airlines, which tend to function on one-way tickets, try www.skyscanner.com Note that on the busiest routes the traditional international carriers have to reduce their prices to compete.