You don't say where you're based, but that would be a factor for me. I wouldn't want to fly across the country in domestic F to get on a relatively short (5-6 hour) flight to London and then get on another flight to Italy.

I think if you redeem for BA on AS miles, you pay a pretty hefty fuel charge now...CDG also has a luxury tax for premium tickets. Plus there's the whole LHR/CDG thing.

If you were in the NW, I'd see what equipment was on the SEA-AMS route and maybe try for that. BA and AF are options also, but LHR and CDG would deter me. A nice, relaxing trans-Atlantic flight can be disrupted pretty quickly with a crappy arrivals experience, IMO.

Bottom line is do NOT fly a domestic carrier (Delta, United, NW, etc). To Europe I LOVE SQ, and LX (only if you can get on the 330-300, if it's the 330-200 forget it). LH isn't bad if you are traveling with someone, plus you'll get to use the FCT in FRA.

Just depends on how much you are willing to spend, and where you are coming from and going to.

With your Amex miles, if you transfer them to Aeroplan, it's 100k miles for an F ticket (at least I think it still is) and their taxes are VERY small compared to others.

Main point - cannot stress enough - do NOT transfer until you've found the flights you want. THEN transfer to pay. You cannot reverse a transfer.

Don't discount partner arrangement as well - for example, you can book *A first class via Continental - also VS and some others; OW via British Air or Mexican Air (IIRC); Skyteam via Delta, for example. Basically, each transfer partner has some level of access to their partner flights.

You'll usually get far better value with the transfer vs. pay with points.

Am in Los Angeles -- and think I've narrowed it down to BA. GREAT advice from all. THANK YOU! I'll advise when we book how easy (or difficult) the process is!

I'd look into the KLM flight, personally. But I have an aversion to LHR and wouldn't want to spend $600 on my "free ticket" for fuel surcharges.

xxxdupexxx

You could save a significant number of miles and money by settling for AA business class LAX-ORD-FCO or LAX-JFK-MXP. Service on the AA 763s in business class (no first offered) is extremely good, and the change of planes in either ORD or JFK is very easy. You won't get clobbered for fuel surcharge, and you'll need fewer AS miles than you would for business on BA.

You know. Good point. Why am I bending over backwards to fly F when it is, when all said and done, just another plane flight. It's not like I haven't been there before! LOL Should save the miles for other stuff.