I need to book a flight from Munich to Venice for March 25 that arrives before 1:30pm so that we can make the tour bus shuttle. If we don't make it we then have to pay $150+ Euros for a taxi boat. Lufthansa has several flights but are SO expensive. I've checked Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia and most flights that are reasonable arrive just after the shuttle bus. Any suggestions? Other websites? I don't want to pay $600 for a one-way ticket but it's looking like I will have to do that. :(
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Skyscanner.com is a search engine that lists flights on both budget airlines and national carriers. On that site I found direct flights on Air Dolomiti. I went to the Air Dolomiti site and found two morning flights. The first one departs at 06:50 and arrives at VCE at 08:05. The second one departs at 11:25 and arrives at 12:25. The current best fare for either flight is €144.43.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
See if a round trip is cheaper (it often is). You can just book that, and throw away the second half of the ticket. Don't throw away the first half, however, or they'll cancel the remainder. In other words, book roundtrip MUC to VCE (preferably with a return about 2 weeks after the departure), and just use the first leg.
Posted by
OP
West Coast, California, USA
485 posts
I checked rates on Lufthansa based on round-trip and it was much more reasonable. However, I read that "the fare is only valid if the flights are taken in the booked sequence. Otherwise the fare will be recalculated based on the actual flight routing." Does this mean that if I'm a no-show on the return flight that they will recalculate the fare and charge me more?
Posted by
Berlin
3 posts
Basically that means if you dont take the first leg the ticket for the return flight will expire. Its ok if you just take the first flight.
Lufthansa still has the old return flight ticket policy on some routes. Only god knows why...
Posted by
OP
West Coast, California, USA
485 posts
I did check Air Dolomiti and found that they partner w/Lufthansa. They have a flight that departs 11:30am and arrives in Venice at 12:30. Cost is $442 Euros one-way w/Lufthansa and $219 Euros RT w/Lufthansa. If booked on Air Dolomiti it's $144 Euros one-way. If I have a checked suitcase, price is $163 Euros but that's limited to 23 kg. For a heavier checked suitcase (32 kg) the ticket would be $203. So this sounds like the way to go. I'm just checking how heavy 23 kg is going to be...
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The one-way fare on Air Dolomiti I gave you is cheaper than the roundtrip fare on Lufthansa,
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Alex, your interpretation is correct. If you don't take the return, they have the right to charge you for a one way ticket. That is standard language with most airlines. There is always this risk with throwing away the return half. However, the bigger question is, Will they do it? So far no one has ever reported that happening that I am aware. If you made a habit of it, then maybe they would come after you. I think the risk is low but there is a risk.