Booking flights from USA to Italy

Always book your flights directly with the airline

To find your alternatives, try matrix.itasoftware.com
It's run by Google and only provides information, no ticket sales. But you can trace that information to your choice of airline. Some itineraries may require a transfer from one airline to another. Choose a pairing which allows one airline to sell both tickets in combination.

I use skyscanner and goggle flights to search but book on the airlines websites.

I am going to Italy in May and have already purchased tickets so it is not too early.

It may be flying back from Florence is raising the price quite a bit. We are flying in and out of Milan even though it is a bit less convenient for us because we got a much cheaper flight that way. So if you have any flexibility, you might see how much round trip from Rome is or coming into Rome and leaving from Milan. You would need to spend your last night near the airport you are flying out of so it may not be worth it to you.

Or look at alternative airports to fly from U.S. from. You are in Indiana. Is Chicago enough cheaper enough to worth going out of? Our daughter and husband are coming down from Atlanta to fly out of Miami airport because half the price of Atlanta.

Also, if you are planning carry on, check what the allotted pounds and dimensions are. The European airlines discount typically are more restrictive in this regard (Tap Portugal, Air Italy) and you either have to take very little or expect to pay for luggage (and factor that into your price comparisons).

We book directly with the airline of choice. We do use Google Flights and ITA to check out flights.

I'm looking at flights now and prices seem to be in the range of what I have heard to be typical, but with five months before our trip I'm wondering if it is wise to book now or just keep an eye on prices for awhile.

I doubt that you are going to find a great deal out there, especially for May. Fares have a nasty habit of going up. I would be booking my flights now.

Where in Indiana? Driving to Chicago could get you better rates and direct flights, if your time allows. Obviously easier from the north of the state.

I just booked October Chicago to Spain. Just for fun I just looked at my rates from Indianapolis. $1200 from Indy, $750 from Chicago. Of course that’s Spain in the fall...you may have very different results but it could be worth looking into.

Thanks everyone. We live just south east of Indianapolis so really would like to fly out of Indy, however we will compare flights.

Thanks again for all the information and advice.

Not 100% certain which airport you're using, but as a general rule the more connections you have to make the greater your potential airline ticket price could be. For example, you said you're in Indiana. Some flights might cost more going from X to Indianapolis to final destination whereas flights from Louisville to ? to final destination might cost something different.

A few things I've learned over the years

-- Figure out your budget
-- Check flight prices multiple times during the week. You may want to clear your cache/cookies between each price check.
-- If you have EVER flown with an airline, make sure that you've signed up for their frequent flyer program. Haven't flown much at all? STILL sign up for their frequent flyer program. It'll give you emails about sales on certain routes.
-- Do not book any flight without first reading ALL of the exceptions. For example, Basic Economy on Delta is their cheapest option. It does not guarantee you a seat next to your travel companion. They also have certain other baggage exceptions. Always read the fine print.

My general strategy is to decide that I'm flying from THIS airport to that one. Then I check multiple sources for that flight, and if possible allow for different dates. Example - if your tour starts on the 4th of some month, consider if you can save a ton on airfare if you arrive on the 1st or 2nd. You definitely want to arrive at least one day ahead of the tour start to give you time to start getting used to the massive time change + covering your own backside in case there are airline issues which delay flights/connections.

Hope you enjoy your tour!!! Italy is amazing!!

I booked r/t air from Denver to Rome since it cost so much less than flying back from Florence (also doing heart of Italy tour) even counting in train from Florence to Rome and a night at airport hotel!
Also if it’s feasible, depending on where you live in Indiana, you might consider going to Chicago and using Ohare as your departure point for international departure and see if that saves in costs.