CLE is what's killing you.

JFK/EWR-FCO nonstop in business is $3,200 (cheaper if you do a connection).

if you can fly the short CLE-JFK/EWR in coach ($250) plus the paid business int'l ($3,200), the whole thing is $3,450 with no miles out of pocket on DL or CO.

If that works for you, I would find a reward on a ticket that matches what you can find at that price and just buy it. You may need an agent to construct the revenue ticket with coach on some segments, business on others.

OK --- the CLE-FCO part is now available for UG......but would have to waitlist on return.

Can I use CO.com to construct a set of flights with different fare classes for different legs ( B fare for CLE-FCO and cheapo for FCO-CLE)?

OK --so now after much searching ang gnashing of teeth ..... prices on CLE-EWR-FCO-EWR-CLE dropped $500 a ticket overnight. "Cheap" (a relative term) fares now available at $1,000.

I know this is a bit like reading tea leaves .....but do any of you Nostradami out there think they'll keep dropping? The big overnight price drop is giving me the hankering to pull the trigger.

It may drop some, but $1000 to Italy during the summer sounds about right.

I like CHANNA's idea about NYC, or maybe flying to another EU hub and taking coach down to FCO? Maybe CLE-LHR-FCO?

Oh ---thanks ---I forgot to post -----BF upgrades available :)

If you think it is a good deal and it is within budget, grab it.

In the end I just bought both tickets and used miles/fees for both of us to UG the eastbound overnight. I'll try to snag row 16 coming back in Y.

Thanks to you all for your help. It was a good learning excercise. :)