I've been reading extensively through this forum's history re: scamcharges. I'm currently planning a trip from YUL to Italy this summer (destination is Sicily, though I assume it's easiest to fly to Rome, at least until dates are firmed up). Obviously the aeroplan website is pretty useless. All the flight offerings are AC or Lufthansa, and feature about $600 in fees per ticket.

I've found flights on the United website (saver award level) that include total taxes and fees of about $85 per person per direction. I gather the next step would be to call Aeroplan and book those flights and pay the $30 fee. There's a potential hiccup, though, and I'm wondering if any members have some advice.

The flights that seem to work are offered via United's website but are operated by Lufthansa, which as we know charges sky-high scamcharges. If I book these flights will I be stuck paying the excess fees? Or will I only be charged the nominal amounts that United on its website?

I'd greatly appreciate any advice members may have, not limited to these questions - any suggestions on getting from YUL to Italy without spending 80% of the price of a ticket on fees (plus, you know, tens of thousands of points) would be greatly appreciated. Our plans are flexible enough that we can fly into one spot and out of another, and we are willing to make a bit of a detour (say to EWR) if it means big savings.

PS: I know Swiss is also an option, but I can't figure out how to find flights that would work - the aeroplan website only offers up AC and Lufthansa...