Flight Questions

Air Canada and United are both part of star alliance. They can offer flights on partner airlines through a process known as codesharing. Book the multi city or open jaw all at once not separately. Buying in one transaction is often cheaper as two one way fares can be very expensive.

How long have you been monitoring fares? In general I’m comfortable waiting up until the 90 day mark. Others have different time frames that they are comfortable with.

The amount of time needed at a connecting airport can vary with the airport, but also with the day of the week and time of the day. The airlines involved can also make a difference; it's easier if they use the same terminal if you're connecting at a large airport. That level of detail is more than I usually want to deal with, but I do pay attention to the airport where I'll be making the change.

What are your choices for connecting airport?

United and Air Canada are both part of the star alliance and you should be able to book on both airlines through either one. I would take a moment to see if booking through one ends up being less expensive than booking through the other.

Not sure what prices you are seeing. I did a British Airways fare that had one stop each way that was around $1220 flying your multi-city itinerary for two random dates in June. What prices are you looking at?

If your flights are on the same ticket, and you have a reasonable layover 1.5 hours or more, you really don't need to worry about making a stop en route.

The prices I'm seeing on Google Flights are ranging between $2700 - $3100 (for 2 of us) right now. It feels expensive to me, but I also don't fly much and not internationally.

Air Canada has the layover in Toronto. One option has a 1hr 16 min. layover. There is another option that is a 3hr layover, still in Toronto.
For the return, I could go United non-stop, but I did see a flight with Lufthansa with a 2hr layover in Frankfort.

Do you recommend going to the airline site, or can the google flight click take me where I need to go for booking.

Thanks!

You may want to allow for a bit more time (3 hrs rather than 1.5) in Toronto for your transfer as it can be busy and get backed up. Lufthansa also codeshares with AC. I would book directly with which ever airline gives you the best price.

I have read that at least with the Canadian and European airlines they are trying to fly fuller planes so fewer total flights; thus popular travel season flights are booking up and more expensive.

There is no good time to buy an airline ticket when buying on a flagship carrier i.e., Air Canada, United, etc. Sometimes booking three-weeks out can be less expensive but waiting until then to fly during the month of Jun is risky.
Fly nonstop if you can and if not make sure there’s no more than one connection and allow a minimum of two hours to connect in the same airport. Some connections transfer at a different airport so pay attendtion to that.
I also checked ITA Airways which is ITs flagship carrier and saw the same prices you mentioned which is exhorbitant. Often times foreign carriers are cheaper than American airline carriers. Also check Skyscanner to see if there are other airlines that fly your market.

You should be able to click on your selection on the Google Flights webpage and go straight to the airline's website with your flight itinerary pre-selected. Verify everything, though, because Google Flights (like other flight-search websites) sometimes displays not-quite-current fares, in which case what you'll find on the airline website can be different. I use Google Flights to research all my transatlantic and domestic flights, but I normally go to the indicated website to book my ticket.

Sometimes there's a $25 or $50 difference in the cost of the same routing, purchased from two different airlines in the same alliance. I'll all for saving money, but buying from an airline other than the one operating the flight sometimes means you cannot select a seat at the time of purchase. I've sometimes had to wait until I checked in, about 24 hours before flight time. As a solo traveler, I'm OK with any aisle seat as long as it reclines a bit for the overnight flight. Parties of 2 or more, and pickier traverlers, could reasonably be more concerned about getting acceptable seats only 24 hours out.

Bridget,
Are you flying a higher class than economy? Are you flying on the weekend?
I found airfare on Turkish Airlines leaving June 1st and returning June 15th for $1400, one stop each way.

I’m just here to commiserate. I’ve been watching fares for a multi-city trip in June for months and months. I was thinking the prices are SO high. We usually pay less than $900 rt for economy, I was seeing fares around $1600. This week they’re $1900-2400. For ECONOMY. That’s ridiculous. It’s killing me! Now I’m freaking out a little wondering if I need to bite the bullet or wait some more. Ugh.

Air Canada and United (as well as Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Air, et. al.) are all p/o of the Star Alliance. They all 'code share' flights, which allows you to book flights with each other. A given itinerary may include flights or two or more carriers. A given airplane, departing a given city on a given date and time to a given destination, may be operating under a number of different airlines' flight numbers. (The other major alliances are Sky Team (Delta, KLM/Air France, et. al.) and One World (American Airlines, British Air, Alaska, et. al.). You can typically book the same itinerary on, for example, Air Canada and United. The prices may be the same or one cheaper. Not all itineraries may be available on both airlines; it all depends on flight-by-flight agreements and number of seats available. Air Canada may make a certain number of seats on a flight to United, once United has sold them, they're gone. Or only at a higher price.

One-ways to/from Europe are usually much more expensive than round trip or 'open-jaws.'

The following article from The Points Guy addresses when to book, in general terms. As always, YMMV: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-time-to-book-a-flight/

Each airport has a given Minimum Connection Time. Airlines don't sell tickets that violate the MCT. BUT: those times assume no delays, passengers do not get held up in immigration/passport control/customs, can walk the distances at a normal pace (or a bit faster), their flight arrives on time, etc. Personally, for international connections I like to see two hours to give me some pad, and ideally three if I'm in a premium cabin. Airlines will rebook you on the next available seats if you miss your connection, but that premium seat (Premium Economy, Business, etc.) might not be available. Your aisle seat may turn into a center seat, you may lose the extra-legroom you had, etc.

One thing to watch out for with codeshare flights: sometimes you can’t select a seat at the time of purchase, even if that is included in the price. For example, we once flew from Portland to Frankfurt, with a connection in Vancouver. The first “leg” (Portland to Vancouver) was on Air Canada. I had booked the flight through Air Canada. I could select seats on this leg. The second “leg” (Vancouver to Frankfurt) was on Lufthansa. They did not assign seats until 24hours before the flight. I called several time (both airlines) and couldn’t get it to happen. That was very stressful as we are a family of 4. I was assured that we would be seated together and could change seats 24 hours before the flight (which we did).

So, if you are booking a codeshare flight, I would book the flight with the airline providing the longest flight so you gave a chance to pick your seats for that flight. Google will tell you which airline operates each leg.

Also be aware that some European airlines have carryon size/weight limits that are less than US airlines. They will weigh and measure your bags, possibly multiple times.

Have you considered flying from ORD to Rome FCO first? United has a non-stop flight out of ORD. We've flown home from Venice twice, and we took British Airways to Heathrow where we took a connecting flight home.

You didn't give the specific dates, but I'm seeing $1225 British Airways flights each out of ORD on flights connecting in Philadelphia or London Heathrow. The return flight on FinnAir connects in Helsinki to a British Airways flight.

Any time you purchase airfares is a gamble. I would be less inclined to buy now if the flights were in the $1500 range. But since Italy is #1 for tourism and you're getting close to the peak season, $1225 is not that terrible.

I so appreciate you all.

I am a teacher and my last day for the school year is June 2nd. I was thinking about departing on the 7th and flying home on the 20th. I'm flexible on the days on either side. Also, I am flexible on flying into Rome and departing from Venice.

I keep looking at so many different options, my head is spinning. I also am trying to pick flights with layovers with around 2 hour layover time. That is limiting.

I did a little playing around with the Air Canada and United booking. As I went through Air Canada, the total price went up from $3100 on Google to something closer to $3900!!!! I about cried. Then I tried to book the flights through United and the price was lower. I am not very savvy here, so I am afraid of making a mistake.

Again, I appreciate all your input.

Bridget

Bridget:
If you are looking at Air Canada, be sure to check if the price you are offered is showing in Canadian or American dollars.
That might be what scared you, as the exchange rate is not the best!

If you do connect through Toronto, take the slightly longer layover, it's a big airport.

As always, book directly with the airline you choose, not a third party such as Expedia etc, no matter how much cheaper you see fares advertised.

Let us know what you decide in the end!

Bridget,
If flying home from Venice make sure it’s not an early morning flight. A 6a departure requires a water taxi ride to the airport that costs in the three digits.
The water bus (vaporetto) begins running at 5a and drops you off at the train station / Piazzale Roma where busses begin departure at 4:20a taking 30m to reach the airport. This option is the most economical way to get to the airport.

Aha, are you quoting the price for 2 people? So $3100 is $1550 a person?
Well, that makes more sense.
I am still seeing flights on Turkish Air for $1200 ($2400 for 2).

I don't particularly care for TA, but a lot of people here love it!

Well, I bit the bullet my friends!
I went ahead and booked my flights through American. I reversed my trip and got a nonstop from Chicago to Rome. Then I will fly out of Venice to Philadelphia with a 1hr 50min layover and then onto Chicago. Flights cost me $3300 (for 2 of us). I hope it was the right call. A few weeks ago, I could have gotten them for around $2500. I just got so nervous about waiting. I didn't want to check in a week and see the same flights for an additional $700. I will be SOOOO ticked if it drops. Also, I paid a bit extra to pick my seats and I'm glad I did. There weren't great options. I was hoping for a couple of seats by the window for my daughter and I, but American has a different set up than Air Canada ( We flew with them in 2016). They do 3 seaters by window and 3 seater in the middle. It was hard to pick seats that I thought my kid and I would be the most comfortable in. I guess we'll find out. I also decided to decline the travel insurance that American had at booking and thought I would comb this forum for suggestions.

I guess I move onto where we will stay, map out what sites to see, and booking some trains.

If you all think of anything else I should be thinking about, please pass it along. I'm a nervous wreck about us girls going solo. The daughter has a very, "I am woman, hear me roar." kinda vibe going. Of course, she isn't planning or paying for this adventure, so probably not worrying like the mama does. Ha!
Thanks again!

Bridget,

I think you did the right thing. I was in the same boat and watched the prices go up and up, never to come down again.

I am traveling in September 2023 and have not yet bought my tickets but think I will bite the bullet as well. Prices are crazy again this year! UGH!