Hi. My husband & I will be taking a rick Steve's tour to Italy this May. We are in our 60's & would like to fly comfortably, but we cannot afford the expensive business or first class. This is a wedding anniversary trip. Does anyone have suggestions on which airline to fly from norfolk, Va to Italy in as much comfort as possible
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
We have found United's and American's programs for Economy Plus to be helpful. First, select seats on the side where there there are only 2 seats together so you don't have other seatmates. During checkout on the website when offered Economy Plus, see if the added cost is within your budget. You get 5" more of legroom and priority boarding so storing luggage is less problematic.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I have been flying Economy Comfort on Delta for the past few years. Laurel is right. The seats are no wider, but there is more room between rows. This usually adds a little over $100 to my ticket, but prices vary.
Posted by
Liberty, Missouri
265 posts
I agree the economy plus or economy comfort seats make things enough better to make it money well spent. I don't usually get one for the return daytime flight as I am not trying to sleep and can stand up and walk around if I have an aisle seat. But that is my choice.
Now for some unsolicited advice. (We help-liners are famous at doing this. We can't help it as it is just in our blood to do this.)
You don't say which city in Italy you are flying into. If it is Rome there is a great set of non-stop flights out and back to IAD to Rome on United. They have good arrival and departure times. I have used them before as a connection from the mid-west.
If Milan or Venice you would go through New York Liberty airport from Dulles. But those type of seats are available on all overseas flights (until they are sold out of course).
Posted by
Chicago
792 posts
Sometimes flights (including the Premium and Business seats) can be cheaper on airlines based out of Europe (Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, Alitalia, etc). Virgin Atlantic also has a pretty nice premium section that can get you to London and then you can take a different airline to Italy.
I don't know what dates the tour is leaving but tickets are also cheaper if you leave/arrive on a tues/wed/thur. It may be worth it to leave a little early and stay a day after the tour.
I have used these tricks and gotten a very good deal on business class seats a few times. But May is fairly close so your best bet is probably going to be to pay a little more for the premium seats on any airlines. Book soon! Or you are going to end up paying a lot more, even for economy seats.