Which FF program to use for Italy?
 

Hi. I first posted this in another forum and it was suggested that I try another more appropriate. I hope this one is better.

My wife has a business conference in Portofino, Italy scheduled for Fall 2004 and I am planning to go, using FF miles for my son and me.

Flying from Chicago, which airline's FF program should I be patronizing for a pleasant journey and economic use of the miles?

I have a good chunk of the required AA miles now and maybe a quarter of the ones I would need on DL and a smattering of others.

Or should I just get an AMEX card? In that case, which one (Skymiles, Starwood, Membership Rewards)?

Thanks for any insight.

In what class of service are interested in flying?

I had more luck with BA (an AA partner) than with Delta (or AF, Alitalia) to go to Italy. In 2001 I could not get an award flight in business class to Italy with Delta/Skyteam at all. Book early!
The next bigger town is Genova. I don't know who flies there.
I was last year in Portofino, very nice, but very crowded. Very small town with plenty of tourists. The police actually closed the street St. Margarita di Pula to Portofino .. open only for people who live there.

Consider collecting LH M&M miles on UA, particularly if you are looking to upgrade only.

If the trip is after Oct 15th it is considered off-peak by most airlines. I flew AA coach to Rome and had no complaints. A coach ticket off-peak is 40K, peak is 60K. BA is "cheaper." 80K in business class and if booked before the end of the year, you save 5K. I have flown to London on AA in Business Class on a 777 and it was very pleasant.

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Ms.DtG

If you decide to use Delta,they can get you to Florence (through an AF partner). It's not a long drive (with some nice stops)from there.