I have read all the bad Alitalia "press" here and need suggestions about the BEST non-stop flight from N.Y. to Rome. <BR>Please help...going nuts reading all the negative comments about practically every airline there is. <BR>Also: do most people buy non-refundable tickets? I was offered a refundable ticket purchase for 300.00 dollars over the non-refundable offer....which one should I take? <BR>What about travel insurance (trip cancellation) with the non-refundable ticket? <BR>Is that the way to go? It seems as though there's alot of "small print" there LOL <BR>I really need to hear from those of you who are tried and true travelers. <BR>Thanks to everyone on this forum for all the great advice so far. <BR>Pam

I think that most people will take the non-refundable ticket and pocket the $300 difference. If you think you MIGHT not take the trip altogether, just wait until you can be more sure, and look for the best deal at that time. <BR> <BR>And I think that almost any airlines is capable of providing a commendable - - or horrible - - experience in coach class, on any given day. It's only 7 or 8 hours. You'll be okay. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

The cheapest--they are all bad and they are all good--pick your day.

Bob's given the definitive answer!

I bought ticket to Italy through the consolidator Discovery World Tours out of Texas. My son cannot come on the trip and they refunded all, but $250 of the ticket. It was a $1000 ticket, so the $750 was great to get back. I was delighfully surprised that this was possible.

They all have bad days, and they all have bad passengers (some angels have been heard to pan the cooking in heaven!) And, unfortunately, there are a few passengers that expect champagne treatment for a beer price, and moan to all and sundry if they don't get it. <BR> <BR>That said, some airlines consistently perform better, on average, than others. And some airlines, consistently, perform worse, on average, than others. <BR> <BR>If cost is the most important factor, then use that criterion and ignore all the rest. Although, some of the better price deals are going to come if you're willing to make a connection in Europe. <BR> <BR>British Airways, for example, is an excellent airline (excellent, not perfect) and one can often get competitive deals if willing to change planes in Heathrow or Gatwick. KLM is about average, in our experience, but the Amsterdam hub works like a Swiss clock, and one can often get deals if willing to make connections in Amsterdam. <BR> <BR>We've not tried to keep up with airline ratings lately, but I suspect a bit of research through Google and other resources will turn up some good info. Note, however, one ought to totally disregard the anecdotal reports of individual passengers about individual trips. Anyone's experience on one trip is totally meaningless. 20 trips, or 100, are meaningless. When professional organizations survey thousands of travelers you can start to get feedback that has some merit.

Hi, Pam! <BR> <BR>Sent you my trip report on Rome .. forgot to mention how we got there. We flew from JFK on Alitalia. Contrary to some negative things said about Alitalia my wife and I found them just great. <BR> <BR>Don't think you'll be disappointed if you fly them. And they go right from JFK to Rome! <BR> <BR>Bob