Oh, no! I'm afraid I really blew it!
I've been watching airfares from IND to FCO (Rome) for weeks--planning to travel in early September- and they've been running $880 to $1000.

Last night I checked airtravelcenter.com and there was a fare for $550 on Delta for the dates I wanted.

The only drawback was that there was a 5 hour layover on the way there making the arrival time in Rome later than I wanted, and a 4 hour layover on the way back.

So anyway, I didn't buy it, and now it's back up to $880 and I'm kicking myself!

Two questions:
1. What do you think the likelihood is of getting that good a fare again for September.

2. I also have enough frequent flier miles with USAIR for the trip, but there is nothing available. Is it likely that more FF seats will be released for September?

Are your dates flexible? If so, I think there's a good chance of a low fare again, but of course no guarantee. Have you checked all possible sources to see if you can duplicate the fare otherwise?

Unfortunately our dates aren't very flexible-- we could go a day or two earlier or later, but that's all.

I've tried a few different websites, but I would love to hear what ones you would include in "all possible sources".

Marcy,

what dates?

September 1 or 2 to September 12.

I apologize, but for some reason I tought you were flying from Chicago. Sorry.

From Chicago to Rome on your dates (but it would involve 2 connections), it is $628 R/T.

Thanks, AA FF,
In general, I think I might value my time more than the money when it comes to adding connections, but it depends how much cheaper it is.

I was hoping to fly either American (1st choice), or USair because those are the ones whose frequent flier programs I use.

I'm not sure how to figure what monetary value to place on achieving elite status with AA, but taking this trip with them would put me much closer. (Maybe this question should be on the Airline forum)

Phone US Air <b>daily</b> to check availability of FF seats. Inventory changes all the time and you could get lucky. We got FF seats on TWA (a few years ago) just days before departure for a five-week trip. I'd been phoning almost daily for weeks.

Marcy,

I have Executive Platinum with AA and it's all that and more, but any status helps. Do you have status now? If not, did you consider doing a challenge to get it quicker? AA offers challenges for Gold and Platinum status. If interested let me know and I will explain.

Good luck with your trip. I do believe you will get some better fares between now and then, so just keep on checking. My suggestion involved AirCanada and Alitalia.

Fly business/first for much lower-than-usual maybe? (but not good in September) - - if you're gonna pay over $800 might as well get out of economy!

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34487937

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks, Betsy,
Do you think they would have seats available if I called them that wouldn't show up on their website?

AA, I'm assuming that's American? Im a UALFrequentFlyer, stuck on AA to Rome next week. Is the rumor I hear that AA has more leg room true? Do they charge for alcohol in coach on international flights? Thanks!

Yes there is more room on the 763 and yes they do charge for drinks in economy .

Check www.seatguru.com for best seats!

Marcy,

It's always better to call. I on't know how USAir works, but AA.Com for example will only show you available award seats if the flight(s) are on AA metal only. When you call AA, the AAdvantage agent will be able to look for available award seats on any AA partner airline as well, so s/he could combine different airlines for one award. It may work the same for USAir. Aren't they parners with United? and some others?

AA FF, No, I don't have any status now with American-- I just decided to switch this year from USAIR. Can you tell me more about their &quot;challenges&quot;?

Rex, I agree-- it's tempting . I actually found a fare that wasn't too outrageous for business class. But if I buy it through a consolidator do I still get the frequent flier miles?

AAfrequentflyer,

can you please explain to me how to challenge your status with AA?

I have obtained a platinum Citicard, and they gave me 12,000 miles right way. also I have quite few miles with AA..
The problem is that I fly AA sometimes and other times I take Continental to go to Paris..
I live in Texas and is easier to get Houston_Paris..

Grazie for your help..
kismet
my e-mail is:
[email protected]

Note to kismetchimera: FYI - miles that you get from purchases made with a Citibank Platinum Card can be used for up-grades but don't count toward attaining elite status. You can only earn elite status by flying a specified number of miles or flight segments in a calendar year. Go to www.aa.com for specific details.

Thanks Sunnyboy..To think that in all these years that I have flown to Europe,myfamily lives there, it never occurred to me to join any airlines and take advantages of the mileages...
Anyway, is better later tha never, I finally saw the Light..

Ok class, have a seat and listen

Challenges are based ONLY on actual flown miles, no other miles are applied towards a challenge.

Just to confuse you a bit, challenges are based on points, NOT miles. It's not as bad as it sounds.

Here is how you get points:

Discount economy(published fares) - .5 point for each mile flown.
Full fare economy - 1 point per mile
Business - 1.25 points per mile
First - 1.5 points per mile

Remember - only the class purchased counts, not the actual clss flown (if you go an upgrade for example), So if you purchased economy and got upgraded to business you still get economy points.

Ok, here are the requirements for challenges:
Gold - You need 5000 points in a 3 month period
Platinum - You need 10,000 points in a 3 month eriod.

So basically if you fly economy, you would need 10,000 miles for Gold and 20,000 miles for Platinum in a 3 month period. Obviously if you were purchasing higher fares it will require less miles.

So, for example, marcy could possibly do the challenge for Gold in one trip to Europe if she is able to squeeze out 10,000 miles (creative routing sometimes helps ). If she did IND-ORD-FCO, I believe it should be just right on the dot.

You have to call AA Customer Service, be AAdvantage member and ask for the challenge you want to do. Yo will have to pick a start date (either the 1sy or 15th of any month) and you will have 3 months to complete it. Do NOT sign up for Platinum thinking that Gold will be automatic if you don't make it. There were reports that you could sign up for both at the same time, but more than not you can't.

One very importnt fact. If you d the challenge during the first 1/2 of the year, your new status will only be good till end of Feb of the following year. If you complete the challenge during the second 1/2 of the year (you actually have to start no earlier than 7/15 to qualify for this) your status will be good till the end of Feb of te year after te following.
The thinking is, that if you completed the challenge early, the miles sill count towards regularly obtained status, so you have plenty of time to renew your status before the end of the year.

The perks:

Gold - check-in at business desk wherever possible, regardless of class of service.
1.25 miles per each mile flown
Ability to pick exit row seats during reservation.
24 hour upgrade clearance if available
Few other things.

Platinum - Check-in at the First class desk wherever possible.
2 miles per each mile flown.
Free access to Admirals Clubs and other partners clubs when traveling interntionally.
Same seating perk as Golds.
72 hour upgrad clearance if available.
Few other thing.

Ok, class, dismissed.

Hope this helps and if you have any questions jut ask.

Sunnyboy,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but although credit card miles don't count toward annual elite qualification on AA, they do count toward lifetime status.