Flights for March

There is no answer to the question. I think the price looks pretty good. But Alitalia might be low balling just to keep selling tickets with the publicity of the bankruptcy, How close is the price with other airlines? Use a credit card, you will have some protection if they go completely under.

Good point...I think I'll hold off for a bit. Just out of curiosity what would be considered a "book now!" fare? Not on Alitalia.

Find out if you can cancel without penalty. If you can go ahead and take that fare because it sounds good to me. If you can cancel later, keep looking for a lower fare and if you find it take it and cancel.

You don't say where you are going or the dates as this can make a big difference. Have you looked at packages, where you get the hotel and flight together? They can be amazing bargains. Check Expedia and those types of agents online. Sometimes, even if you don't use the hotel, you may get the flight cheaper than if you booked a flight by itself.I do not think I would go with Alitalia right now.

We are staying in Florence for a week (We're renting an apartment) and Rome for 4 days. Rome and Milan seem to be the cheapest right now, but I don't feel too comfortable with Alitalia...I think I'll wait a while and see what happens.

I wouldn't go with Alitalia right now either, but anything less than $800 per person I would consider a good fare and would buy. Good luck!

A couple of months ago I checked prices for our trip next year (Memphis to Rome May 20/Rome to Memphis June 7) and the best price I found was about $900. I checked the same dates today and the best price I can find is about $1450!

So much for the help we got from the stronger dollar!

Memphis is a lot closer to Rome than LAX is, and we're paying nearly double? Unfair!

Sales pop-up unexpectedly so you better jump on them when you see them. Especially now that air travel costs have risen so dramatically. I just bought r/t from Knoxville to Venice for $795 in June 2009. Now, the same ticket on the same airline for the same date is over $1600. Seems sales are fewer and harder to come by these days.

You don't mention your itinerary, but flights to Milan and Venice are usually priced lower than those to Rome. Open jaws - say into Milan and back from Rome - can save time and money too. From the east coast these days, I consider anything under $800 to Italy good and anything under $700 a bargain. If you can find something under $800 from LAX, that sounds like a decent price. My opinion is that Alitalia would be a gamble. If Air One buys them, it might be a great gamble. If not, who knows.

we flew this past march easter weekend open jaw minneapaolis to newark to milan returned rome to amsterdam to minneapolis. we did use frequent flyer mile, but i was always checking rates without the ffm and found the open jaw to be cheaper 800- 900 $ good luck :):):