Making a Plan B

I will be honest with you and say I probalby know less than you. But I am confused as to why I would be calling partner airlines instead of the airline that I booked the flight with. Cancelations are their responsibility to cure. Or someone help me here, am I wrong somehow?

Your recognition of the possibility and the challenge is excellent. And this is a good question. But once you have a satisfactory answer, I suggest you step back a bit, deep breath, and know the odds are in your favor no matter what happens. Then consider flexibility. Make your calls, then go out and see a few more things you didnt think you would have the time for.

I can only speak from personal experience, but last year when our flight on United was canceled, the first United agent I chatted with via their app was not able to help me, but the second one was. So I would add that in addition to feeding them flight information, and being very proactive with flexible solutions that you offer them on your schedule’s end, you might run into a block with one agent but try again and get lucky with another.

If I am recalling correctly, the second United agent that helped us rebooked us on a Lufthansa flight and within minutes, all our new flight info showed up on the Lufthansa app. So be ready with all the airlines’ different apps downloaded, because you might need to chat with different airlines’ agents, and the apps are the best way to do this. We had better luck through the chat features on the apps than by calling, which we also tried. And never try to talk to a gate agent live at the airport; they do not have access to all the live real time data that the agents monitoring the app chats do.

Welcome to the Forum!
I assume your concerns are because of the current situation with possible jet fuel disruptions? Even if for bad weather or mechanical issues, though, I am a fan of Plan Bs :) and the airline apps.
Having the airline apps was really useful in my two experiences. I flew Lufthansa from the US last year and then a cascade of errors led to the FRA to Berlin leg being cancelled. Plus we'd all been required to check carryon-compliant bags at the gate and then weren't allowed to retrieve them ...I received constant updates through the app.
I was rebooked automatically, and then kept apprised of all the many gate changes and further delays as well as (later!) tracking updates for the suitcase.
If I had gone ahead and done it myself (either on their website, as I was in fact starting to do when I got the app notice) or another airline, I would have created unnecessary problems.
The same with a Delta/Air France cancellation, I was rebooked automatically. (That time I was able to keep my carry on!)
(Caveat: there goes whatever seat(s) you chose at booking, but by that point I didn't care!)
Having alternative flights noted prior to departure, when you have time for the research, couldn't hurt, for peace of mind? Another lesson learned when my trusty bag was taken away is 1) take a photo and 2) keep a packing cube with overnight items and/or change of clothes in your personal item...in case you get stuck.
But I've learned not to leap into action and give the app alert some time.

My wife and I actually broached this subject. We are in Sicily now, will be for a little over 2 weeks yet. We fly home from Catania (direct to JFK), which has already had some jet fuel supply issues. So what if we go to leave, and Delta cancels or delays the flight?

Unless they reposition a plane from FCO, that large plane will need to refuel in Catania, so maybe the risk level is greater than expected.

One tactic I have used in the past, and may resort to again, is not to fight the rebooking crowds. I really, really hate the "well, maybe you will get on the next flight" game, then you spend a couple days at the airport.. We already have plan B, if issues require, to inquire if flying back from Rome would be better than Catania. If so, we will schedule our flight out a few days from Rome. We are retired, have traveled in Italy a number of times, so getting to Rome is not an issue, extending our trip maybe a plus. That may make sense, maybe not.

As for Partner vs Alliance, not sure, but in the booking you have, I would work mainly with Lufthansa. Air Dolomiti is only short-haul, and they would not, for example, be able to get you on a United flight. Lufthansa, maybe. Talking to United, probably no help if you did not book through them. Doing test bookings might help, if only to help point Lufthansa to a flight that may work, especially, if like I mentioned, you look a few days out.

Another tip besides pre-loading the apps is to research and pre-load the real telephone numbers the applicable airlines in your contacts. The scams others have fallen into sometimes happened when something went wrong with their flight, they were in a bit of panic to get an alternative, they googled to get the airline phone number and the search results included a scam phone number that they grabbed and dialed in their hurry.

As someone who has had Plan B's for years and years and years, I'm going to agree with what Mr. E wrote. (Is that a first?)

If a flight is canceled, wait to see what the airline offers. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do some research and know your alternatives. Just don't act on it. Technically, the canceling airline is still resposible for getting you to your destination at no extra cost. They may also be responsible for...compensation for your delay, any hotels you stayed in or food you ate because of the delay.

Many airlines are part of airline alliances. The paricipating airlines are their "alliance partners." They can usually write tickets for each others airlines.

I see someone I mentioned chatting on the

Yeah, as long as you don’t care about getting good information chatting on the app works

Sadly, for most airlines, the truth is it’s 50% damn by bots and the other 50%those reps are working numerous chats and they are incentivized to get you to go away not to fix your problem. How about the only thing I trusted an airline chat but to tell me is the time of day and even then I would check it with a reliable resource. I have been lied to. I’ve been told stupid stuff. It’s bad when your customer knows more about your airline than your agent. But after the chat agent canceled my flight because she got confused, working her numerous chats and then ended the chat leaving me with this mess. I learned my lesson - never again.

If at all possible, dial the phone and talk to a real human,