Travelling to Rome
 

I am in the DC area. Just wondering is there any city that seems to price out cheaper for flights to Rome? I have points to fly to any city in North America but not enough to get to Rome so would be willing to depart from another city if I knew which city would give me the best deal. Whatr has been your experience. Travelling March 11-18th.

In addition which airline have you found to be the cheapest.

This is just a guess, but I would try pricing flights from JFK..but not sure if any discount would make up for the hassle of getting there from DC. Delta and Alitalia run frequent flights..although many are code share the price often varies depending on who you book with...I have saved money by booking with Alitalia even though the flight is operated by Delta. Also check for sales..get yourself on their e-mailing lists.

Alitalia also codeshares with Continental out of Newark.

I live in Baltimore,and have researched flights from DC,BWI and New York/Newark.Really,you will do just as well leaving from one of the Washington airports as you would from another east coast departure city.If there is a difference,it would be very small,and (for me)not worth the hassle and time of adding another flight.Check on Orbitz and you'll find out pretty quickly.

From Denver, most our European flights go through D.C. You're already in a cheaper market than we are here.

Could you buy enough miles from your FF provider to get an awards ticket to Rome?

Hi Miz,

You're lucky. You don't have to fly out of ATL.

You could check flights out of JFK or EWR or PHL, but I don't think that the savings make it worthwhile.

((I))

Another question: have you found it more economical to book directly on-line with a specific airline or to use a travel site?

miz, always do a price comparison between the travel sites and the airline sites. With airfare prices being so screwy, you never know what you'll find and when! It's a complete game of chance, I think, but you're wise to do your homework to ensure that luck is on your side.

ok thanks everyone.

I have been reading through the forumn and it seems Air France and Alitalia have a reputaion of lost luggage and poor customer service. With that said from your experience which airline would you suggest that would offer the
best service. I really do not want a lost luggage issue.

Bumping up

Thanks I will check the flyertalk link.
Seems like prices have gone up in the past couple of weeks. Travelling in March I am now wondering should I be booking now. Will they go down?

Just an FYI-If you are traveling in March you start competing with the spring break crowds as early as the first of March. I fly to Rome everyweek and the flights are always full but key times such as spring break,summer and Christmas are usually oversold.Your choices out of the US are usually American nonstop out of Chicago; Delta nonstop out of JFK, Atlanta and Cincinnati; Continental out of Newark and Alitalia out of JFK.Rome continues to be packed to the gills with tourists no matter what time of the year these days..........but I must admit the scenery,food and wine and history make it magical. One of my favorite cities to fly to!

dutyfree -thanks for that info! With flying every week what is your choice for an airline and why? I would like your experienced guidance in choosing.

Miz, if you do not want lost luggage do not fly Alitalia! They lost our luggage going to Rome and coming back this month. I cannot begin to tell you the misery and hell that we and many others went through in Italy because of this. I will never ever fly them again. I know other airlines lose luggage, however, other airlines seem to have heard of the term "customer service".
JenV

Thanks JenV I will rremember that. Traveling so far from home and losing luggage is not funny

Any airline can lose your luggage.There are a few things you can do to minimize your chances of this happening,but they all lose luggage.

While it is aggravating to lose your luggage, the real question is how soon did they get it to you and how involved was that? You're saying they lost your luggage both going AND coming home?