Originally Posted by
ckendall
One more idea (though not without its own drawbacks): meet in Paris.
Air France flies from many US cities to Paris (CDG) and to many Italian cities from CDG. CDG is not a perfect airport (stuff happens, like delayed luggage) but you could all fly to Paris and meet up for a flight to Venice and fly back from Rome (or wherever).
This is what I am doing in Oct. Will travel via train from London to Paris, then CDG-FCO on Air France.