rkkwan

On your specific dates, 2/9-2/15:

Most airlines are in the low $600's. Air Canada is in the high $500's. Not worth the trouble - long connection in Toronto, extra immigration/customs, and no CO miles if you're collecting them. [You can earn Star alliance miles like AC, UA or US.]

Continental's flight EWR-FCO is very expensive, almost certainly because of the return 2/15 FCO-EWR has no cheap inventories. However, you can fly IAH-EWR-FCO on the outbound, and then FCO-AMS-IAH (FCO-AMS on KLM), for about the same price as all other airlines.

This is actually a better itinerary than CO all the way because you don't have clear US immigration/customs in EWR and reclear security. And you'll still get your personal screens for the long AMS-IAH leg, and you get full CO Onepass miles and (100% EQM if you book it the right way).

Now, you won't find this itinerary on continental.com, which is a problem. You can book it through Orbitz, but you pay at least $10 more for service fees, and you will only get 50% EQM on this "T" fare if that's important to you.

So, the <b>best way</b> to get this fare is this. Go to continental.com and book a open-jaw (aka &quot;multiple-destination&quot ticket 2/9 IAH-FCO and 2/15 AMS-IAH. You'll find a fare for $580.90. <b>Do not purchase,</b> but sign in your Onepass account and put this on hold till midnight the next day. Then call the continental.com website support desk (not general reservations) at 800-300-1547 and ask them to add KL1596 from FCO to AMS (6:35am to 9:20am - you do have 4 hours in AMS to tour the museum), and reprice it. It should come up as around $620. Then, go back to the website and complete your purchase. This way, you'll get your online bonus, 100% EQM, and all the benefits of purchasing online.

richardab

According to kayak.com, You cheapest is around $580 on Air Canada thru Toronto or KLM thru Amsterdam. I would pick the KLM flight bercause the Schipol is a lot nicer than most.

BirmanCrazy

I did it!!!!!!! I bought tickets on NorthWest Airlines website for KLM to Rome! The price dropped to $586 total per person! I liked the wait times between flights better than Lufthansa. Luft. had only a 50min period between changing planes in Frankfurt on the return home flight. KLM gives me 20 more minutes. And a big factor was my husband and I can get Continental Onepass miles. Do I get 100% of the miles flown exchanged in OnePass miles? I listed my Frequently Flyer # on my booking when asked (Continental OnePass was on a drop down menu). I did book on NorthWest's website as well(which is what you have to do for booking KLM) I feel comfortable in this decision because of everyone's compliment's on Amsterdam's airport. Now......the big question! When I get off the plane in Amsterdam, do I have to collect my bags, go through customs and then go to another terminal? Is this easy done? Signs in english too? Thanks Everyone for all of your help! Diana

richardab

Good deal. You are right 50 minutes is enough time but if the line is back up at immigrations then you will have to rush. I am not sure how it works in Amsterdam but when you connect thru Frankfurt for a USA flight you have to go thru immigrations and security again. You don't really leave the secure area but they check everything again just to be sure. EVERYONE going on a USA bound flight also gets a personal &quot;pat down&quot; by the German authorities. Believe me they aren't shy about it...

richardab

When you arrive in Amsterdam you don't have to collect your bags but you do go thru European immigrations and a passport check. You collect your bags in Rome and will not have to do immigrations again in Italy.

But remember that on your return, you may have a passport check in both Rome and Amsterdam. Once you land in AMS be sure that you head for the immigrations check, the lines can be long. Amsterdam may also require additional security screening.

You will get 100% of the miles between IAH and FCO which is 5670 miles. If you ticket has a KLM flight number than I believe it is also 100% from AMS to FCO.

If it has a code share number from NWA, I don't know how that works!

flanneruk

At Amsterdam your bags will automatically go onto the next flight: you don't need to collect them. You will clear Customs (ie the people who might check your bags) at Rome outbound and at your first US airport returning.

You will go through Immigration and security at Amsterdam outbound, and Schengen outbound passport control and security at Amsterdam on the way back. The whole of your connection will be under one roof, but the distances (which you have to travel on foot unless you're disabled) might be considerable.

richardab

Yes they MAY check you bags at Rome, but only if they want to take the time and stop smoking and chatting, otherwise you will walk right through.

Remember when you return, the Americans are far more strict. Don't even consider bring back and meats or fruits. If they find them (and they usually do) you will be fined. They do spots checks with cute sniffing dogs and they also x-ray your luggage to see what you may be bringing back.

rkkwan

You'll get 100% CO Onepass miles and 100% EQM for if your flight numbers are KL and the planes are operated by KL. If they are operated by another Skyteam member - like NW or AZ, then you should get 100% Onepass miles, but EQM maybe only 50%.

<b>HOWEVER</b>, make sure you save the boarding passes for all legs. Sometimes your miles won't post for a long time, or never at all. You may have to send it the boarding passes and a copy of your e-ticket receipt to a local CO address in Houston to get your miles posted.

EQM is important as 100% EQM will earn you almost 12,000 miles already, which is half-way to Silver Elite, and by the time you come back, it's only February.

AR

Just to echo Flanneruk - my luggage got delayed at Amsterdam as well. Arrived in San Francisco 24 hours later. Had to go out and buy undies pretty urgently. Don't Americans wear anything other than boxers?

Grahamh49

My experience, although slightly out of date is that KLM have more legroom than BA and service, though more understated is similar. However KLM use NW for transatlantic and it's some time since I travelled with them and had an emergency exit row both ways (bliss) so can't comment. Put it like this though; I've got a hecck of a lot more FF points with KLM than with BA. ( I do suspect from limited recent experience that since the merger with AF things have got down more than somewhat. I think they've been getting 'charm' lessons from AF)

rkkwan

Both KL and NW operate lots of Trans-Atlantic flight to Amsterdam. From Houston IAH, it's a daily non-stop KL service to AMS using a 747-400E. On certain days, KL also has a all-business class 737 operated by Privatair.

Popper

B.A. may have a better plane but if your concerned about f.f. miles, check to make sure they give you full mileage. My company use to fly us B.A. using discounted tickets. When they started giving only 1/3 of the actual mileage I changed to KLM. Amsterdam has by far the best airport compared to Frankfurt and London. London being undoubtedly the worst if you have to transfer between terminals or worse yet between Gatwick &amp; Heathrow. And if you have any length of a stay over on your connection, the center of Amsterdam is a mere 20 minutes by train from the airport. Hope you have an enjoyable trip no matter which airline you decide.

JoanneH

In Sept. I flew BA San Francisco to London-Rome and return.Flight to London was great with excellent service flew in coach both ways.
London-Rome and back Rome London makes the southwest air cattle cars look like heaven. London-San Francisco was horrible lousy service, ran out of food and the noise level was like being at grand central station, it rattled the whole 10 hours. My head was pounding.