those who just booked cheap flights on alitalia
 

is anyone worried about this?? (thanks to grimmy for sending to me)

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS....ap/index.html

i am very nervous to book as it appears it has been, and will be going on for a while...

The article says no intercontinental flights will be cancelled. Are your flights within Italy or within Europe? Looks like those are the flights to be affected. However, one never knows for sure what ripple effects there will be.

the article says:
"In a statement Saturday, Alitalia said 99 of the nixed flights are domestic and 60 international."

what is the difference between intercontinental and international? (is intercontinental USA to Italy, and international France to Italy?)

The strike will probably be pretty short. Any airline can have this happen - remember British Airways last summer and their wildcat strikes?

That's the way I took it. Is Alitalia your only option? I hope everything works out for your trip.

Rookie- Alitalia is by far the cheapest option so far... the reason I cannot change dates or risk problems is I am flying to italy for my wedding!! this is where most of the concern lies.. there is no choice, i have to get there LOL

YIKES ! ! !

I have this website for "planned" strikes & demonstrations in Italy you might like to see:

http://www.seekitaly.com/news/from_roma.html

It looks like the pilots are scheduling 24 hour strikes several weeks apart.

I also just saw your other thread showing your planned flights. Worst case if the Milan/Florence part is a problem you could train that part.

Think positive - think positive - think positive.

Best wishes for your marriage.

Rookie-- You are the best!! Thanks for sending this... I actually laughed out loud when I saw how many planned strikes there are. LOL I'll keep you posted as to what we decide to do! *biting nails*

I've got my fingers crossed for you.

It looks like the strikes are aimed at disrupting Italian and European business travel. Both strike dates posted are Mondays.

Rookie- you are too nice! :-) Going to think about it a bit more... I figure we're not travelling until Sept, so we DO have more chances to get lower-priced flights... but when that $500 price was waved in my face, I had the credit card ready to go! I guess nothing is guaranteed these days anyway - especially with air travel.

"what is the difference between intercontinental and international? (is intercontinental USA to Italy, and international France to Italy?)"

Thonglori, essentially, you have it figured out. Intercontinental is between continents such as between Europe and North America. International is between nations such as between France and Italy or the UK and Italy. An Intercontinental flight would also technically be an international flight......well, except I think Turkey is actually on two continents, Europe and Asia. :)

i did it!! bought the Alitalia tix.... $511 each...... thanks all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep your fingers crossed for the next few months :-) *no stikre! no strike!*

though I'm sure we'll all be fine...

Where did you get that price? Was it through the Airline? Because I am looking for fares this April

look on orbitz.com - that is where i booked!

Bravo!

Hopefully, the Alitalia pilots will be tired of their 24-hour strikes by Sept!

Just keep thinking all those positive thoughts.

Best Wishes,
Rookie

Orbitz has bizarre behavior. If you do your search and don't see any low fares, still try clicking on a few of them as if you intended to book. I found the prices did not look cheap, but as soon as I clicked the Book button, I saw a message that the price had *decreased*. Then I saw prices in the $600 range or so.