I booked 2 Business class seats using Aeroplan points for July, 2015 - Toronto to Florence via Austrian.

Taxes from Toronto were $1,033.66 each so no savings there.

I booked as soon as we were clear of the 356 days for our return.

No matter what we booked, the return had significant layovers. I don't mind the 4.5 hours on the outbound because it sure beats going via Rome and having to take the train to Tuscany and getting ourselves back to Rome 2 days early in case of a strike (it has happened to us) - and since our destination is Tuscany it made sense to us.

We did not want to fly LOT (others do, our preference is not to). I did look at the Zurich option but again, a layover required a hotel and the cost of the hotels in Zurich is very high - so perhaps we would have saved on airline taxes and fees, but paid double for the hotel.

Also, the layover was longer and we had more than 1 stop each way.

Our preference was also not to go via the U.S. We do not have a problem returning via the U.S. but too many flights are cancelled/delayed going from Toronto to JFK so we did not want to risk it.

A few years ago the charges for Austrian were much lower - but now Luft and Austrian charge the same as AC.

So we paid the higher taxes and fees - but will have one stop outbound and another on the return. The return will require a layover of 18 hours, but we will not have to leave Florence until early afternoon (on a REALLY small plane) - this sure beats the 6:20 a.m. flight that we took in previous years. The flight from Vienna to Toronto now departs (at the moment) at 10:35, so I have booked us into the NH Vienna Airport Hotel. We have stayed there before and it is a 5 minute walk.

Last year I could not get my husband an Aeroplan points seat so I bought him the cheapest Economy ticket. This years I managed it - but I did get the very last 2 seats in Business - at least on the Vienna to Florence - Florence to Vienna segments. I think you would have a hard time finding 4 seats in Business class on one flight. I will not book Business and Economy as I have found that the short hauls tend to be in Business and the long haul in Economy - for business points and taxes. If travelling Economy I prefer to book a ticket.