Hello! My mom is 78 and is planning to fly by herself from San Diego to Catania in May to visit my sister. There are flights from the US with connections in Rome or Berlin or Frankfurt or Amsterdam, to then fly into Catania. What would be the easiest route for my mom? She has experience fling within the US, but has not flown much into Europe. Thank you!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16058 posts
The easiest way is for you to drive her to Los Angeles (LAX). From LAX Alitalia has a seasonal (Summer only) non stop flight to Rome Fiumicino airport (FCO). Then from FCO there are many Alitalia flights to CTA throughout the day. The second option is to fly from LAX to Munich, Germany (MUC) with Lufthansa. Then from MUC Lufthansa flies to CTA. Tertium non datur.
Posted by
OP
Spring Valley, CA, USA
4 posts
Thank you for the helpful suggestios. Nancy
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
I don't think changing planes in Rome is that easy. As a matter of fact it's ranked in the world's worst 10 airports for connections. Berlin is a very small airport. It's always crowded and there is nothing to do while you're waiting - but it's all very short walks and not that many gates, so one cannot get lost. Frankfurt is huge but easy to change planes. Amsterdam is huge and I also think it's very easy to navigate.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I am with Andreas. If it is all the same use Amsterdam because she will go through immigrations when she first lands. My limited experience with immigrations in Rome is not good. Second choice would be Frankfurt but it is a big sprawling airport with potentially a lot of walking.
Posted by
OP
Spring Valley, CA, USA
4 posts
Thanks for the replys. Very helpful. Nancy
Posted by
Bend, OR, United States
1167 posts
I found Amsterdam to be very user friendly since almost all of the signage includes English which makes it much easier to find your way around.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16058 posts
All those airports may be nice and dandy, but if you want to make it easy for your mom, you should try to limit the number of airplanes changes for her. Unfortunately you don't have a lot of one stop options from Southern California to Catania. Actually for the month of May, you can take out the non stop LAX to FCO as well. There is ONE and ONE ONLY option from Southern California to Catania in May which entails one stop only. That option is with Lufthansa from LAX with one stop in Munich, Germany, which is consistently voted the most efficient international airport in Europe (when I connect there from SFO to Italy all I need is 20 minutes from gate to gate, including passport control). The price is currently also right, about $1,350. All other options entail 2 or more layovers and a longer journey. It's your call.
Posted by
OP
Spring Valley, CA, USA
4 posts
Thanks to sll of you for answereing this e-mail. It really has been very helpfu. Nancy