Flights to Italy

[TXTransplant]

We have the Italy/Amalfi Coast trip booked for next June. When we traveled to Germany this past summer, I didn't book our flights until about 3 months out (as that was the lowest price I found after watching prices for months and months).


Edited to Nevermind...United changed up their website (and the new version is terrible, BTW) and now prices are quoted as one way. So, that $1000 flight is really a $2000 flight. Ugh.

But, I would still like recommendations on the best airport for customs, since we will not be able to fly direct. At some point, I will have to bite the bullet and buy our tickets.

 

[belle&bug]

When we did Italy last summer we went DFW/LHR, then transferred to Gatwick for our flight to Naples. Heathrow is massive and we had 7 hours between flights. Naples customs was a breeze, Heathrow not so much. Gatwick was much easier to navigate but from what I understand, most international flights come into LHR and not Gatwick. Are there any direct flights from the US to Naples?

 

[tgeorge]

Oh gosh...I hear ya about United's site!! I just booked our France tickets in July and it was so infuriating! Sorry I can't help with airport recommendations since I've never been,but I'm sure someone can give you some info. Enjoy the trip! This is one that is on my list as the Amalfi coast is somewhere I'd love to go!

 

[Pinkflmngo]

I did the Italy trip in October with my adult daughter. I was really lucky to have enough airline loyalty points and we were able to fly for free!!! Or ALMOST free. This was my first trip to Europe and I was completely unaware of the fees associated with the transatlantic flights. In order to use points, we flew the first leg on American to Chicago, then switched to British Airways from Chicago to London Heathrow (BA is part of American's OneWorld Alliance). We then flew from Heathrow to Rome on British Airways.

The shock came when the fees showed up as about $1000!!!! I calculated it different ways, with and without using points, and the fees did not change, so it had nothing to do with using points. On an occasion when I was talking with American Airlines about the upcoming trip, I mentioned the super high fees. She said it was a fee for using British Airways and passing through the United Kingdom. She did everything possible to rebook me through Spain, Amsterdam, and Germany to avoid the high cost of the fees but there were no available flights left or at least not at the times we needed them.

I am sure that there will be people who say this is wrong, and I am sure that being a novice European traveler, I could have misunderstood something. Please be kind and don't shoot the messenger. I am only repeating what I was told by the AA agent. Had I known when I booked the flight that the fees were associated with British Airways and Heathrow, I could have saved a lot of money by booking a different connection. The fees with Iberia Airlines were about $200. By the way, the numbers I gave for fees were based on 2 people, i.e., about $500 each for British Airways.

I hope this helps someone else! At least check it out before you purchase. Additionally, Heathrow was absolutely NUTS for security. I'm not complaining about being secure but it was very hard to figure out what they wanted us to do and where they wanted us to go.

Good luck,
Lynda

PS: The trip to Italy surpassed my wildest dreams and expectations!!!! I can't recommend it enough. We were on an adult exclusive trip and I loved having no kids. Nothing against kids, but if you are not traveling with kids of your own, other people's little darlings can be trying.

 

[TXTransplant]

We are looking at spending several pre-days in Rome, so I'm looking to do round-trip from Houston to Rome. Our options on United are to fly through Chicago, Toronto, DC, or Newark. On American, Charlotte is an option. I've heard bad things about customs in Newark.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We are looking at spending several pre-days in Rome, so I'm looking to do round-trip from Houston to Rome. Our options on United are to fly through Chicago, Toronto, DC, or Newark. On American, Charlotte is an option I've heard bad things about customs in Newark.

I like flying overseas through Chicago on United (if I have to make a connection). It's not a complicated terminal system. Basically you have 2 parallel terminals connected by an underground moving walkway. That would be my choice all else being equal. Charlotte is also nice, but due to FF miles I'd probably fly United.

 

[TXTransplant]

I like flying overseas through Chicago on United (if I have to make a connection). It's not a complicated terminal system. Basically you have 2 parallel terminals connected by an underground moving walkway. That would be my choice all else being equal. Charlotte is also nice, but due to FF miles I'd probably fly United.

Thanks! I was thinking we'd connect through Newark to get there and Chicago to get home. I can book a flight with a 3-4 hour layover in Chicago, so hopefully, that would be enough time to get through customs.

 

[Woodview]

Have you looked at the Aer Lingus site.

USA to Dublin & on to Rome.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Thanks! I was thinking we'd connect through Newark to get there and Chicago to get home. I can book a flight with a 3-4 hour layover in Chicago, so hopefully, that would be enough time to get through customs.

Should be plenty of time. Get Global Entry. That makes traveling less stressful.

 

[tgeorge]

Yes, Aer Lingus is what we're flying from Chicago to Marseille and then Paris to Chicago. It is a Star Alliance airline so I was able to use United miles. Check them out. The prices were much cheaper than through United and we have a short layover in Dublin each way.

 

[tgeorge]

Cousin Orville... Would you recommend global entry if you don't travel internationally often? I've thought of it,but just not sure it is worth it. Although, I have considered an Amex Platinum and global entry comes with it,which helps makes the membership fee a bit easier to swallow

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......
The shock came when the fees showed up as about $1000!!!! I calculated it different ways, with and without using points, and the fees did not change, so it had nothing to do with using points. On an occasion when I was talking with American Airlines about the upcoming trip, I mentioned the super high fees. She said it was a fee for using British Airways and passing through the United Kingdom. She did everything possible to rebook me through Spain, Amsterdam, and Germany to avoid the high cost of the fees but there were no available flights left or at least not at the times we needed them...

Good point. If your destination is not Great Britain, you should avoid transiting through an airport there. The added fees are killer.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Cousin Orville... Would you recommend global entry if you don't travel internationally often? I've thought of it,but just not sure it is worth it. Although, I have considered an Amex Platinum and global entry comes with it,which helps makes the membership fee a bit easier to swallow

With Global Entry comes a "Known Traveler ID" which usually gives you PreCheck to fastpass the TSA lines. It's also good for 5 years I think. So, yes it's worth it.

I got mine through Platinum Amex as well. Keep in mind they will only pay for the number of Global Entry fee's as there are card holders. My wife and I are card holders, but my children are too young to be "cardholders". So we got 2 Global Entry's paid for and paid out of pocket for the kids.

 

[tgeorge]

Thanks Cousin Orville! I already have a known traveler number since I'm a member of the military, but I think it will still be worth it. Obviously, if I do get the platinum Amex then it will be a no brainer!

I appreciate the info.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Thanks Cousin Orville! I already have a known traveler number since I'm a member of the military, but I think it will still be worth it. Obviously, if I do get the platinum Amex then it will be a no brainer!

I appreciate the info.

It may be worth it to at least get the platinum Amex for 1 yr. If you have 2 or more cardholders, that helps with Global Entry. Plus you'll get $200 towards airline auxiliary charges. I use mine for Southwest gift cards. With a good Amex sign up offer, that can cover a lot of the Amex fee.

 

[tgeorge]

Oh, that's a great idea with Southwest gift cards! I was trying to figure out how to best use that $200 since I don't pay baggage fees! Now I just need to wait for a good sign up offer!!