Airfare to Rome. Which airport?
 

I am planning a trip to Rome for November this year. I have been watching the airfare prices from Baltimore for the past 4 months waiting for a good price. So far the cheapest price I can find with one stop is $1100 a ticket.

Today I see Phili has a price of $850 per ticket for nonstop. I have never given Phili a consideration to fry from. It would be about 2 hr drive from Baltimore. I am not sure if it is worth the drive if the prices for Baltimore will come down.

Do you guys think I should jump on this deal? I havent been following prices from Phili so I dont know if that is a good price or not.

I dont know if the price I am seeing from Baltimore is the average or it will drop. I was hoping since I am going during off season the price might be cheaper.Buying tickets is such a gamble. Choices choices... Ugg...

I'm not sure where your connection is via Baltimore - in Europe or in North America? (And is it a "stop" or a "connection?") I always prefer a direct flight to Europe from the US if possible. Every connection in the US adds a potential complication due to weather, etc. That would be one thing that would sway me toward Philly anyway. A connection in Europe is less worrisome as you'd probably arrive earlier in the day and have more opportunities to catch a later connecting flight should you miss your connection to Rome.

You could also take Amtrak to Philly 30th Street Station and then Septa train from 30th Street directly to PHL airport. That would save you the hassle of driving and parking up there. Of course, it also adds another potential complication. Amtrak could be delayed or late, though I believe it is pretty reliable in the NE corridor?

I'm the opposite of Andrew. I prefer the connection to be in the US so I have a longer flight to sleep.

I wouldn't pay that much for a November flight. I think prices will drop a bit more. I would expect prices to be upper $600's to $800 for that time of year.

What is your Italy itinerary? Have you looked at flying into other cities in Italy?

Good luck. If you think you would be happy with paying $X for round trip tickets, then take them. If you think world oil prices will drop (it is the world price that sets the market has little to do with anything else) and you want to take a gamble that they will go down, then wait. Depends on if you want to pin down your future plans with a known or an unknown.

p.s. I lived in the Baltimore/DC area for over 30 years. It really isn't hard to get to Philly for a flight. Check out hotels near the Philly airport for deals -- could be less to drive up the night before and stay near the airport with a shuttle, leaving your car parked there than having to park or even take an airport limo to BWI to/from your home. I always hated flying TO Philly to have to transfer to an international flight, but discovered one year when there were storm warnings and USAirways drove us all to Philly that it really wasn't that bad a trip. It is clearly worth an nearly $300 savings!

The cheapest flight from Baltimore has me connecting in Phili. So I figure if I have to connect there anyways I should just drive there and save the couple of hundred dollars. Not sure what to do. like I said I am not sure if that is a good price from Phili since I have been following prices from Baltimore. I would LOVE airfare in the $700 range but not sure if that is possible.