I would slow down.

Prices change constantly and seats open up all the time. I would keep trying for FF seats and checking airfares. I usually find the lowest fares in the 30-45 day before departure window. Thats when FF seats open up also.

Until she reports back, we're not even sure if she checked the AAdvantage All-Partner award availibility with an agent. I have this feeling that she did not.

Checking award availibility on line limits the choices to about 10% of available flights.

If it helps your decision I am seeing May flights from DFW to Rome from $665-$775 on other airlines.

By all means wait, but also look at Chicgo-Dublin-Rome, using AA or Aer Lingus to Dublin (around $550 at present) and Ryanair to Rome (€ 100 round trip all in.)

I would only use that many miles for a coach ticket in a dire emergency, and you're not in one. Plus as everyone says, award inventory is a moving target. Patience, MarshaL.

AA Frequent Flyer and all,
Thanks for the responses. Yes, I did phone AA. The agent spend quite some time checking other routes via partners but still couldn't find anything, even checking other dates in the same time frame. I also did try every other travel reservation website that I could think of. This is actually a ticket for a college-aged child so I do not really want to use miles for an upgrade. So, I'm still not sure what we will do. Keep writing!

It's hard for me to believe that you can't get 1 saver award from Chicago to Rome.

If you like I'll check for you if you give me all the acceptable dates.

With Iberia, Aer Lingus, BA, FinnAir, SN, Turkish and AA, the combinations are endless.

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34718686 where MarshaL has continued the saga...

It would be better to add the "postscript" here.. and continue this thread onward.

I have found that sometimes it pays to call the frequent flyer desk right back and try another agent. Of course I'm always working with Delta but . . . Sometimes I get an agent who is matter of fact, nope, nope, can't do it (sort of like that capital one commercial). But sometimes I get an agent who seems to enjoy the challenge of finding me a way there and back and will go to great lengths to find an option. When planning an Italy trip this summer that was the case. First guy no way - second guy worked and worked until he got me into Nice and out of Venice - which works with my trip. Talked with both within a three hour timeframe.