American Express Membership Rewards - Redeeming MR for First Class Travel to Italy

I will be traveling from DAY, CMH, OR CVG to FCO in early May and would like to do so in a the best first available. Have plenty of MR, would be willing to use up to 150K. What are my options?

Welcome to FlyerTalk!!

In true F your best option is going to be BA later this year or LX/LH via CO, NH or AC. All of those will require two connections at least.

If you're willing to go in Business class there are many more options, several of which would only require one stop/connection.

Is it worth it to fly FIRST? I don't necessarily mind the stops if there is a significant difference in service.

Also, what would be my best redemption options?

Further, any idea what the mileage requirement would be?


Thanks.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

Is your budget 150,000 miles per person?

If you fly from the USA to a European airport and connect to Rome the intra-European segments will be in business class which is not equivalent to domestic first class on the US based legacy carriers. Your total experience might be better if you fly nonstop from a US airport to FCO in transatlantic business class.

What are your expectations for a "first class" experience? For example, do you want a true flat-bed seat versus a "lie-flat" angled seat versus a conventional seat? How important are meals, snacks, wine or other beverages? Do you care how many total seats are in the cabin, or about the flight attendant to passenger ratio? Are you interested in entertainment?

Yes my budget is 150K, per person, and I am the only one flying in my party.

Having never flown international F, my rankings here are a guess.
1. True flat bed
2. Entertainment
3. Food

In order of importance.

Any suggestions as to how important these are from people who have flown both F and biz?

Why not AF in F to CDG, then business to FCO?

Sorry, just realized the starting point.

Why not AF in F to CDG, then business to FCO?

Would this be better than BA in F to Heathrow and then to FCO in biz

Absolutely not, plus availability sucks and it's expensive as hell. BA F is the best way to go, but not worth the price premium over LX F. I'd go LX F.

Absolutely not, plus availability sucks and it's expensive as hell. BA F is the best way to go, but not worth the price premium over LX F. I'd go LX F.

Is this the consensus then? LX F? If so, what is the best way to redeem?

Air Canada? ANA? All transfer options from MR.

Stevenshev is the expert here. With his help I got FC to Venice next summeron Swiss and returning from Athens on Lufthansa.

BTW, another reason I like the Starwood AMEX and its points rather than my AMEX MR card.

Why not AF in F to CDG, then business to FCO?

Because AF limits F redemptions to their elites only.