I'm looking at flights for 4 in business or first from most likely ORD to Rome or Venice (still early in the process so completely flexible) and was looking for opinions on the best product for the flight? Not sure yet if it will be with miles (plenty from ms) or revenue.
Best premium award to Italy
- Thread starter sound48
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I guess the key is how many stops?
Voyaging Doc
Level 2 Member
any frequent flyer miles?
I should have enough in each of the 3 major alliances for all 4 of the family in business or first, plus have plenty of transferable currency (SPG, UR, MR, TYP) as well.
To rome it seems just AA is nonstop. One stop could be Lufthansa, which is a great product (so I hear)
Seems that LH flies both the 747-8 and the A340 on that route (both to MUC) perhaps @asthejoeflies or @tmount might know which is best..
747-8 is the only one lie-flat in J on LH, anything else is roulette at best with poor odds. There's almost 0 chance of getting 4 F seats out of ORD with LH as well, unless absurdly flexible and also absurdly lucky! Should be 747-8 to FRA, A340 to MUC.
We flew the 747-8 last summer and it was amazing. The only issue with them is I got lucky getting 4 business class seats. I know it's very rare to find 4 premium award seats in the summer so I can't really bank on it.
Is there usually decent availability in the summer booking 11 months out? Would be using delta miles (never used befofore so looking forward to that train wreck).
IIRC There's an issue booking baby flights with these guys- are your kids older?
Not sure, never looked to be honest. DL also flies DTW-FCO summer seasonal and that is 95-100% chance of lie-flat.
If you are considering revenue, take a look at flying into Milan. There has been an ongoing fare war from JFK to Milan and the prices are lowest to Italy on those fares.
Yes, when I'm looking to book they'll be 9 and 15.
I had seen jfk but not dtw, good to know. Thanks.
I would consider a revenue ticket if it was on us airways. I'll have to look into it. Thanks.
italdesign
Level 2 Member
Good luck finding 4 desirable J/F award seats on the same flight.
I got lucky last year to Frankfurt on LH and found business on us airways this year for 4. So it's possible, just need to keep looking.
Technically you only need one F, the wife and kids can go sit in coach and contemplate why they aren't earning the miles like daddy.
(OK I'd be shot if I tried that)
And for good reason. Although, I am AA EXP & my husband is PLAT. If I get upgraded and he doesn't I wave at him as he heads back
tmount
Administrator
So, LH is a great product, and they are flying more 747-8's which does have layflat business, but if you do LH, I'd recommend at least half the folks fly in F, so you get the First Class Lounge or Terminal.
Other options: There is a direct ORD-FCO on United, they fly a 3-cabin 772, both J and F have layflats, its my preferred J seat of UA (vs. pre-merger CO's seat which they have on the dreamliner that sucks!).
If you have the Alaska miles, you could try flying EK A380 via Dubai, that's a lot of fun, and last I checked Emirates does fly to Rome, that'd be 100k AS miles though, one way. You could even do a stopover in Dubai.
While its not spectacular, Finnair flies from I think ORD (I know they fly from JFK), and has a above average business class, from what I've read. They also have a sauna at the airport, which could be cool to do.
If there were a *reasonable* way to book Air France first class, I'd recommend considering that, as the lounge sounds to be great in CDG, although, you'd be spinning the roulette wheel of whether you'll encounter an ATC strike, pilot strike, ground crew strike, or flight attendant strike.
Thanks for all the great info. A lot of stuff to look into. This helps a lot.
Matt S NYC
Level 2 Member
I wouldn't do that to my wife, but I've definitely done that to friends I've traveled with. heheAnd for good reason. Although, I am AA EXP & my husband is PLAT. If I get upgraded and he doesn't I wave at him as he heads back
Why? If there were only one upgrade would you split and give it to another person? I always offer it to him, but he says I earned it so why shouldn't I enjoy it? There seems to be an unwritten rule that husbands should not do this to their wives. But switching it is somehow different...
Matt S NYC
Level 2 Member
I'd give it to someone else because she'd be unhappy. If it were reverse I would be annoyed too. I'm bad at being alone. hehe
There are a lot of people like that. We are both independent spirits and travel together less than we travel solo. But when we travel together I always have to tell them "willing to split" for the upgrade. I think most people don't split. We are each happy for the other person to be up there. But it is usually me He's glad I have created situations for him to be upgraded and fly in J and F. It works.
He's glad I have created situations for him to be upgraded and fly in J and F. It works.
MickiSue
Level 2 Member
I just booked my husband and myself MSP-VCE.
I can take three weeks, he only wants to use five vacation days, so we're flying separately. But will both be there for our grandsons 2nd b'day, so it's all good.
I want lie flat, and he doesn't care. I'm doing DL through JFK outbound, he's doing DL coach through JFK and FCO both ways. I've got AA/BA through Gatwick and LHR first coming back.
Probably more stops than you'd like, but there's an overnight @ LHR, so making use of some Carlson points. There is a variety of card bonused chains @ Heathrow, so that might help.
I can take three weeks, he only wants to use five vacation days, so we're flying separately. But will both be there for our grandsons 2nd b'day, so it's all good.
I want lie flat, and he doesn't care. I'm doing DL through JFK outbound, he's doing DL coach through JFK and FCO both ways. I've got AA/BA through Gatwick and LHR first coming back.
Probably more stops than you'd like, but there's an overnight @ LHR, so making use of some Carlson points. There is a variety of card bonused chains @ Heathrow, so that might help.