Newbie - Help with flight Baltimore-Rome

The only real danger is in missing your connection. Be sure you leave LOTS of time between flights (not just "adequate"). You'll also have to claim your bags and recheck/check in for the second flight since you won't be booked straight through. I don't see anything wrong with doing it that way.

As Nancy stated, be sure you have more than adequate time. Are you using the same airport? It is a risk/reward question. What is the financial risk if you miss the second flight? $175 plus a walk up ticket?? What if you miss on the return trip? A walk up ticket going home from London will be super expensive. For me saving $206 on each leg is not worth BUT I would book it if I planned an overnight in London on both legs. You would break even but get a couple of quick days in London.

Booking the separate flights would not necessarily prevent you from checking your luggage through to Rome. As long as it was the same airline or one with a baggage transfer agreement it would not be a problem.

The connecting London airport is Heathrow for both alternatives . . .

Thanks!

George

Here's some options for May 20 - June 03, 2009

www.vayama.com - $815.61
Depart BWI about 4 PM EST - Arrive FCO about 4 PM Rome time; 1 connection each way...

www.continental.com - Various flights at $1,112; Many options available. 1 connection in most cases

Search through www.mobissimo.com and you will get many options including this British Air deal on Airfare.com:

British Airways BWI-LHR; 09:05 PM - 09:20 AM FL#228

British Airways LGW-FCO; 02:00 PM - 05:25 PM FL#2540

British Airways FCO-LGW; 07:30 AM - 09:10 AM FL#2545

British Airways LHR-BWI; 04:15 PM - 07:35 PM FL#229

Both of these BA flights DO REQUIRE going from LHR to LGW but there is PLENTY of time with 5 and 7 hours between flights!!! And the price at Airfare.com (working through mobissimo) is.... $861 .

This last flight (below) has an airport change ONLY on the return and with a 7 Hour layover, no problem. In fact, pretty darn easy - Total price $876.55 - Does have a long layover at LHR, but you could shuttle in London for lunch!!!

British Airways BWI-LHR; 09:05 PM - 09:20 AM FL#228

British Airways LHR- FCO; 06:15 PM - 09:45 PM FL#558

British Airways FCO-LGW; 07:30 AM - 09:10 AM FL#2545

British Airways LHR-BWI; 04:15 PM - 07:35 PM FL#229

I'm sure there are lot's of other options out there, but these are a few I found!I hate to see you book "separate" flights because if issues arise you could get stuck. If you book all on one ticket, you are far more protected!

Good luck!

Ron in Rome

Just emphasizing what others have wrote- if you do the two ticket route, give yourself several hours between connecting flights. Heathrow is a very unpredictable airport. I've breezed through on some trips, and alternatively, been stuck in one queue or another for nearly two hours.

George, you may want to take the train up to Philly and fly USair nonstop to Rome for $450.00 RT.

Bob - Where are you seeing this $450 R\T fare Philadelphia\Rome? I haven't come close to that on any of the sites I go to.

Thanks!

George

usair.com

Bob - either I am doing something wrong or you hit usair.com at just the right time because the lowest I get from there is $1112 . . . :(

George

I did the same thing on American Airlines to save mega-bucks. We are flying into London and then to Athens. Booking this as two separate flights saved me over $1000 per person!....because American does not offer the supersaver fare (nonrefundable; no changes) on connecting flights.
But as others have mentioned, you must allow yourself maximum time between flights in case your first flight is delayed.

Be sure to travel light, one light carry-on each would be best.

First, you can make your connections much more easily.

Second, you won't have to worry about your luggage missing the connection.

Third, when you switch to a European carrier, their weight restrictions can be different. If it's all on one ticket, your booking airline's rules will be in effect for your whole flight. When you book them seperately, you have to watch each carrier's rules.

I booked my round trip, all on British Airways, with a layover at Heathrow each way. The layover time at Heathrow has me just a little bit concerned, 3 hours 20 minutes for the trip over and 2 hours 45 minutes for the trip back. But British Airways and other folks I've spoken with think this should not be a problem . . .

Thanks everyone for your help.

George