Here's my problem: I have 160,000 miles, my partner has 51,000. The only way we can get close to Palermo from PHL in May (according to the agents I've spoken to) using miles is to spend 75,000 each to fly PHL-VCE (I wound use my miles for both of us). They state there is no partner that flies into Sicily. I asked about Lufthansa and was told that since Lufthansa does not publish its schedule or fares(!) USAirways cannot book their flights using US miles.

Just wondering if somebody clever has a good idea. Otherwise I'll just do the PHL-VCE roundtrip and pay cash for an Italian airline to fly between VCE, PMO, and CTA. If it makes any difference I actually have 86,000 US miles and 74,000 American Express miles to be used with any airline. My partner's 51,000 are with USAirways.

Thanks!

The problem is trying to minimize out-of-pocket costs. Instead, fly to FRA and then transfer (for cash) to Air Berlin. Usually substantially cheaper than LH. Save your miles for when you really need them. Roundtrip tickets from FRA to CTA are about 200 Euros.

Although you might be strapped for cash, it would save the agony of trying to get to Siciliy on an award ticket!

dont really understand what you are saying...

US does fly to pmo,, as code share with LH/AP (airone) from FCO non stop and from vce with change in FCO

since you have some amex miles have you considered transfer to delta with 20% increase and getting more with credit card. DL/partners alitalia have more flexiblity in getting to pmo or cta and saver awards if avail are 50K
from ewr or jfk
If you are going US try to get to FCO then the Airone/lufthansa flights are much cheaper than flying from vce... if they will not book you thru to pmo on the award.

long shot .. can US get you to bru Virgin express has low cost non stop to pmo and cta

The no mileage on LH thing is a bunch of non-sense. They are part of the *A and you can use miles on them. Period. Get a supervisor. That's just an appaling excuse on US's fault.

The no mileage on LH thing is a bunch of non-sense. They are part of the *A and you can use miles on them. Period. Get a supervisor. That's just an appaling excuse on US's fault.

I really wonder about some of the things that are said on the phone. I have experienced it myself. STS is right on. Just hang up and call back...the usual mantra

The no mileage on LH thing is a bunch of non-sense. They are part of the *A and you can use miles on them. Period. Get a supervisor. That's just an appaling excuse on US's fault.

Totally. I flew from Rome to Catania on AirOne last year and the miles flown counted as preferred miles to my US DM account. So there are definitely partner airlines flying to Catania. Maybe you need to fly into Rome?

The USA based agents obviously need some retraining on the Star Alliance and partner codeshares. It's simple to get to Sicily from PHL. Here at European Res we book them all the time.

Only one word of caution: connections in Italy can be a black hole for misconnected baggage. No-one in any Italian airport I have had to deal with regarding baggage even picks up the phone. If your bags misconnect, they'll be gone for days on end. Alitalia are the WORST. If you call to ask about baggage, they swear in Italian and slam down the phone. Awful.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I called USAirways 5 times yesterday and finally got someone to admit that AirOne is indeed one of their partners. However there are no frequent flyer seats available on AirOne. How can I know if they're lying?
Meanwhile the good people at Starwood allowed me to set up a new Starwood account for my partner and then transfer some of my American Express points to his new account. He then moved these points to his US account bringing his total to the 75K needed for the seat to VCE. So we both wind up with seats to VCE from PHL for 75K R/T. I'll just pay cash for the VCE-PMO flights.

Oh, another question: anyone know if I can use US Airways vouchers for partner flights?

Oh, another question: anyone know if I can use US Airways vouchers for partner flights?

I was not able to do that. The CSR said I can only use a US Airways voucher on US metal. I also tried to do it at the airport and could not do it. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else had any luck with this.

So we both wind up with seats to VCE from PHL for 75K R/T. I'll just pay cash for the VCE-PMO flights.


Wasn't Envoy available instead of the 50K coach? May 14th and 17th have space in J for 40K...

You can also fly Windjet from VCE to PMO and CTA. http://www.volawindjet.it