Italy - Award travel ORD-ROM can't find return seats

Hi: Family of four would like to take a cruise Rome r/t and can only get flights on the outbound. Returning 8/6 are there any other cities in Italy I should check or any other savvy traveller strategies you'd recommend? I have looked at Milan but there are no flights from that airport either. I have miles on Oneworld and Star Alliance. Would prefer to avoid going thru LHR because of the surcharges. Thanks.

I've been running into this problem, too, and not just with Rome (although Rome is notorious for sparse award availability)

We tend to go to more than one place on a trip, so I've been getting one-way awards. Then you look for return flights near your desired date. If there's nothing, look at other places, in conjunction with cheap air/rail travel.

I've found $50 flights from Nice to Paris (on AF, no less) and EasyJet, Aer Lingus, and other LCC's can often get you to an open return point conveniently and inexpensively.

Best advice is to book early and be flexible.

[QUOTE=BigLar;17793357]I've found $50 flights from Nice to Paris (on AF, no less) and EasyJet, Aer Lingus, and other LCC's can often get you to an open return point conveniently and inexpensively.QUOTE]

+1

Also look into space out of NAP (a long shot but worth the try). You may also want to look into alternative U.S. gateways direct from FCO or MXP and take a short flight from say JFK, BOS, IAD, etc. Sort of a reverse to BigLar's strategy.

There are no surcharges by simply going thru LHR, no more than going thru FRA for example.

There are 4 business class seats on Aug.6
FCO-LIS-EWR-ORD on TP/CO.

For coach, on the 7th in the evening, you can go to FRA
and then continue on the morning of the 8th FRA-YUL-ORD

Its not actually Rome thats the problem, but lack of 4 domestic USA seats together.

I suggest booking one of the options above, and keep monitoring availability, something else may open up, and changes are free up to 21 days out.

I cant help with OneWorld.

There are no surcharges by simply going thru LHR, no more than going thru FRA for example.

For coach, on the 7th in the evening, you can go to FRA
and then continue on the morning of the 8th FRA-YUL-ORD

I suggest booking one of the options above, and keep monitoring availability, something else may open up, and changes are free up to 21 days out.


The kids need to be back on Aug 8, the start of the fall sports season, and since they have to tryout, it's best if we can get back on the sixth to help recover from jet lag.

I am curious how you split the dates. Did you list a multicity or something?

As others here have mentioned, I will tryout other US gateways. I'm getting encouraged!

The kids need to be back on Aug 8, the start of the fall sports season, and since they have to tryout, it's best if we can get back on the sixth to help recover from jet lag.

I am curious how you split the dates. Did you list a multicity or something?

As others here have mentioned, I will tryout other US gateways. I'm getting encouraged!

Use multicity on continental.com
You may consider splitting up one parent + one kid on one set of flights, and then the other with the other kid on a different set. You can always change later if space opens up.

Use multicity on continental.com
You may consider splitting up one parent + one kid on one set of flights, and then the other with the other kid on a different set. You can always change later if space opens up.You are a genius! We can get all four of us as far a Montreal on the 7th and then one pair will have to go thru Cleveland getting home a few hours later. Not such a bad deal. An extra day in Rome might not be such abad thing. I think I'll have the AAdvantage agent try this on its partner airlines and see if it gives me any more otions.

did you check Pisa? It's got a direct Delta flight for New York

agnes87: Thanks, but I don't have any mile on Delta. I'm all set with Star Alliance airlines. Now to plan the itinerary. ^

We had the same problem. we just added a couple days to our trip and are flying out of VRN. Was able to connect in FRA and actually get 4 O tickets to ORD.