Hi Jende,

At http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm
youcan get a nonstop from detroit to Rome on May 25 for $837. One-stop flights start at $634.

Not a lot if you're Bill Gates. :)

You've <i>got</i> to be able to do far better than $1,500 RT, even in May. Keep looking and good luck!

Flying from Chicago, it shouldn't be more that $800 for that time of year...

Thanks so much for looking that up ira. Much better prices. I'd still end up spending about the same, but I'll keep my FF miles. I've been nervous to use consolidators, but it seems like a lot of people on this forum use them frequently.

Anyone have experience with Air Travel Center? I've also been wondering about bidding on flights.

Jende,

I used them for my last trip and for my upcoming trip. They add $6.00 to the quoted price. Somtimes you have to pay for paper tickets, but that is only if the airline requires it.

Here's another consolidator http://www.consolidatorwebfares.com/specials.htm I've used them for tickets to South Africa in May, and have recieved paper tickets already. Also got seat assignments by calling British Airways. (Now I just have to hope they don't renig on those seat assignments!) USAirways has under $600 RT for Paris in that time frame elaving Chicago. Can't you use United miles on USAirways? You may want to check that option...see if there's availability from the consolidator (I actually called them and they were great to work with) what kind of flexibility you've got for dates, and then try to redeem your miles for one of those flights. (or buy 2 cheap seats and EARN miles toward business class seats in the future!)

Try http://www.eurotrip.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=7 . Don't know if that link works or not. Basically you have to go to the Eurotrip discussion forum on cheap flight tactics. If anyone can help you, the people there can. They look constantly for deals and post them. One of the posters is especially helpful.

$1500 is way too high. For example, I quickly checked Travelocity and got a price for $865 on Lufthansa from Chicago to Rome (May 20 to June 3). Expedia and Sidestep provided prices around $840. With a little time, I'm sure I could beat that price.

Take a look at your Sunday newspaper travel section advertisements. I have had good luck (lower prices) with agencies who purchase tickets from consolidators.

Good luck!

Ok, jende, from your last post, replying to ira's tip it sounds like you have found a pair of tickets on the same flight at about $750 each. Using your FF miles is a good idea. No law says that you and your travelling companion have to be on the same flight. Maybe one of you would have to hang around the airport waiting for the other to arrive, but it would allow you to spend the miles and not the $750.

I am using FF miles to upgrade on Delta and I paid $1800/ticket in order to upgrade to Business Elite. Delta makes you buy a more expensive class of ticket when you are using FF miles to upgrade. When I purchased mine, they were twice what I expected and the going rate for a regular ticket to Rome was around $1550. That was around July or August 2003. We got some good fares on Air France and British Air for relatives connecting in London or Paris and into Naples for about $650 each. Be careful about waiting if you have to have the flights. Airlines have cut back on flights and planes are going out a lot fuller. If you have some flexibility, you might wait a while.

I'd see if you can still get at ticket w/ FF miles this late. I got mine in October for a trip next Sept. A friend booked hers too, on a different outbound flight. When we called later to book our return (on the first day the flight was open, she tried to change her outbound to be on my flight, and there were no more FF seats available! I'd book whatever you can get on FF miles now, and buy the best ticket you can when prices look better. If you don't end up on the same flight, no big deal!

Those on our trip who have to buy tickets are waiting for prices to drop...still VERY high ($1400) right now... should be about 1/2 that later.

Anne

Please get checking! Believe or not, check the same websites you have been using on a daily basis. Espically, cheaptickets.com. I purchased mine RT 2 people 800.00 and some change. The prices flucuate. Check all airports from your location too. The smaller airports seem to be more $$. You may consider picking up a cheap flight to the East or West coast and leaving from there. Good Luck!!

You can wait--you certainly won't do any worse than $1500. But if there is only one particular flight you want, you could have a problem if it's a popular flight.

$1500 might not be high if you're going first class. Take a look at hotwire.com, expedia.com, cheaptickets.com or orbitz.com if you want the best deals. For a recent trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Rome I found a ticket with only one stop for $467 (economy class)on orbitz.