Star Alliance - Best Economy or Premium Economy for International Flight

I am trying to fly from Jacksonville, FL to Rome, Italy in May 2013. So far I have not been able to find an outbound flight that we can use points (US Air miles) on to fly in Business Class. If we have to pay, we will not be flying business class.

Can you suggest the best airline to use if we have to fly economy or premium economy. I was looking at Air France because there seems to be more leg room in their premium voyager, but the reviews say the seat is very uncomfortable. We don't fly very often and this is a special trip. Thanks for any suggestions you might be able to give me. Really wanted to fly business on points, but certainly can't afford the $10,000 for 2 of us to pay.

Use your US miles for a domestic award to get you to JFK and then take TK comfort class to FCO via IST....?
For next May fares on their website pricing out at US$1551 AI so a less than a third of the J price to what in my mind is 75% of the product...

I am trying to fly from Jacksonville, FL to Rome, Italy in May 2013. So far I have not been able to find an outbound flight that we can use points (US Air miles) on to fly in Business Class. If we have to pay, we will not be flying business class.

Can you suggest the best airline to use if we have to fly economy or premium economy. I was looking at Air France because there seems to be more leg room in their premium voyager, but the reviews say the seat is very uncomfortable. We don't fly very often and this is a special trip. Thanks for any suggestions you might be able to give me. Really wanted to fly business on points, but certainly can't afford the $10,000 for 2 of us to pay.

If you are willing to go Jacksonville - XXX (USA) - YYY (Europe) - Rome, I would say you aren't trying hard enough!

I have tried using points from New York, Chicago, Seattle, Charlotte, Phil., and Miami to Rome Don't know enought to try going thru other cities in Europe. I have only flown international once in my lifetime. Still a novice, but trying to learn. We are flying out on May 4, 2013 and have tried the United site, Us air site and ANA site. Still no luck.

I have tried using points from New York, Chicago, Seattle, Charlotte, Phil., and Miami to Rome Don't know enought to try going thru other cities in Europe. I have only flown international once in my lifetime. Still a novice, but trying to learn. We are flying out on May 4, 2013 and have tried the United site, Us air site and ANA site. Still no luck.

I just checked on the UA website and there is availability from JAX-FCO leaving on May 4, 2013 via IAD and YYZ (UA, UA, AC). Play around with the website a bit and you'll find an itinerary you like.

Thanks I will keep looking. This is all still new to me. Hopefully next week when the return date, May 20th, comes up we can find 2 seats.

Best premium economy is surely NZ, but I don't think that's a legal routing for you.

I can find some flights for May 4, 2013 on the UA site, but when I go to the ANA site, those flights show no seats. Does that mean that the UA site is showing "phantom" seating?

I can find some flights for May 4, 2013 on the UA site, but when I go to the ANA site, those flights show no seats. Does that mean that the UA site is showing "phantom" seating?
It could be that those seats are available only for purchase with UA miles. I think the best thing for you to do is to find an itinerary you like on UA or NH and call the US Airways reservations office and see if they offer it.

Which website is "NH"? Still new at learing all the verbage. Thanks!!!!!

Which website is "NH"? Still new at learing all the verbage. Thanks!!!!!
I used NH to refer to All Nippon Airways. NH is the IATA code for ANA.

Thanks, I will keep looking at both sites.

For the most efficient results looking for business class award seats, you really might consider the site awardnexus.com. It's free for FT members for a certain amount of limited usage, which your search would qualify for. I use the service pretty frequently. For more information beyond what you'd find at the site itself, you should feel free to pose questions there or email the fellow who runs it (and who posts here at FT) at peter@awardnexus.com

Thunderroad,
Thanks for the website. I will look for some flights. I am so hoping that we will be able to find something for points flying on business. We have been saving our miles for 2 years, using the US air card. I have 2 bad hips and it is very hard to fly on a long flight in an economy seat, but can't afford to pay $5000 each to fly in business.

Again, thanks for all the help. Keep you fingers crossed. Our return date shouldd open up next week.

thanks for everyone's help. We were able to get "4" business class seats on miles from Orlando To Rome on Luthansa going thru Frankfurt for May 13. I am so excited. We were hoping to get at least 2 seats, but had a great us air reservationist and after about 2 hours were able to find a fliht with 4 seats on every leg. We put the ticket on hold and will call back today to ticket. Does this look like an ok itineray.

thanks for everyone's help. We were able to get "4" business class seats on miles from Orlando To Rome on Luthansa going thru Frankfurt for May 13. I am so excited. We were hoping to get at least 2 seats, but had a great us air reservationist and after about 2 hours were able to find a fliht with 4 seats on every leg. We put the ticket on hold and will call back today to ticket. Does this look like an ok itineray.
Finding 4 business class seats on every leg of your trip is very hard. Kudos to you for getting it. If you are sure of your travel plans, I'd suggest you go ahead and ticket it.

Very excited, but I couldn't have done it without all the help from Flyertalk. The first call to US air I was told there was nothing available, so I should just purchase tickets. Called back about 1 hour later and was on for 1 1/2 hours going over every flight available on every airline. We had to change our return date from 5/20/13 to 5/21/13 to get a return flight with 4 seats, but that was fine. Another day in Rome is nothing to get upset about. Again, thanks for all the help. With the search tools, I would have just listened to that first agent and would be paying to fly economy.