I have used US Airways Dividend Miles for the last two decades for reward flights, have not redeemed any through AA since I was merged over.

I am doing some "practice runs" of possible routes and redemption possibilities for a trip my wife and I are going on in September 2016, to Italy.

Using AA, I put in PHL to FCO, then returning VCE to PHL for July and early August, 2016.

It seems there is good availability for a first class redemption with BA flights offered, (first across the ocean, business to Italy). However, when I get to the end of the process, it tells me it will cost 125,000 miles (reasonable) and $1010.00 per ticket! Breakdown is about $850 per ticket in "carrier imposed fees", and the rest the usual taxes and fees.

Is this normal? If so, have any of you found a way to travel first class to Italy through AA without paying such a large monetary amount?

Thank you for your time, and I apologize if this is discussed a lot. A 15 minute search didn't come up with any threads discussing the subject for me.