Italy Airfares? UP or Down? Plan Ahead

Last year I flew to Milan for a bike tour. Because of all the stuff I needed to bring, I had to have luggage in both directions,

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It was not a bad price, $488.00 from Miami, non stop. I spent about $60 for better seating so I could get off the plane quickly, and that was worth it.

 

This year my wife and I are traveling light, carry on only,

 

Basically the same flight with out the extras.  I purchased these tickets on Sept 20, and $389.00 Non Stop Round Trip from Miami is excellent. 

 

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Today that same ticket is $$$610.14.  That is a $120 increase, still not a bad price to Italy during the shoulder season.

Plan ahead and shop early when you see a good fare.   Use Google Flights, or Google Flight Matrix from ITA. Here is the link http://matrix.itasoftware.com

Keep track of prices and when you see a reasonable price, grab it.  In 2016 we flew to Florence vis Dusseldorf on Air Berlin (now defunct) and tickets were $900 each. Air Italy offers many deisitnations and origins. Miami, New York, San Fransico, Los Angeles. Check it out.  Keep in mind there are VERY low fares in Italy to other cities.  Alitalia is offering €39 one way fares from Milan to Catania, and €46 from Milan to Rome.  Compare a cost of $747 on Air Italy direct vs the $483 plus about $90 for the Milan to Palermo/Catania flights. 

 

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Air Italy and Miami Inewrnational

 

 

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Duomo, Milano

 

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Know Your Air Passenger Rights When Coming or Going to EU Countries

CIMG0438Even if your rights in the USA do not do much for delays, if you are traveling to or from an EU country you have definite benefits.    US and EU carriers must abide by the rules and you may be able to get some serious compensation.  Several years ago, I got a complete refund on one of our trips which cut our airfare in half.   The following web site has the complete details of your rights. 

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

 

 

 

From the web site here is some helpful information:

Go directly to the site above for active links to all areas.     I 

 

FAQs – Air passenger rights
A European airline recently lost my baggage. I complained to the airline, but am not fully satisfied with their reaction. Can I complain to someone else?
YES – For a cross-border flight, you can contact your country’s European Consumer Centre. For a domestic flight, contact a national consumer centre in your country.
When booking a flight recently, I was shocked, when it came to pay, to see the final cost once taxes and charges had been added.  Surely, airlines are supposed to make the total price of the ticket, including taxes and charges, visible from the start?
YES – and the cost of each item (the fare, taxes, charges, surcharges and fees) must be clearly displayed.
If I am travelling from outside the EU, e.g. from the USA to Paris, do I have any rights if my flight is cancelled?
YES – provided your air carrier is licensed in a European country.
I booked a flight to Barcelona from Rome.  Due to heavy traffic, I arrived at the airport late but just before the gates closed for the flight.  I was not allowed to board the flight.  Do I have any rights?
NO – as you did not comply with the requirement to present yourself for check-in within the time stipulated.
Is there a time limit within which I can bring legal action for compensation for a cancelled flight?
This depends on national law in each European country and will therefore vary throughout the EU. Check with the National Enforcement body in the country concerned or a national consumer centre for more information.
Do I have any rights if I am not allowed to board my connecting flight because I arrived late at the gates due to a delay with the first flight?
YES – if the flights are part of a single reservation, the carrier has to offer you the option between the reimbursement of your ticket and a return flight to the airport of departure at the earliest opportunity or re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity or re-routing at a later date at your convenience under comparable transport conditions, subject to the availability of seats. In case you are re-routed and you reach your final destination with a delay of 3 hours or more you are entitled to compensation.
My flight is due to depart from Berlin this morning but I have just received a text from the airline advising that the flight has been cancelled.  Do I have any rights?
YES – you have rights under EU rules.  You are entitled to reimbursement of the full cost of your ticket for the part of your journey not made or re-routing at the earliest opportunity.  If you are already at the airport and you opt for re-routing, you are also entitled to meals and refreshments in proportion to your waiting time, and two telephone calls, texts or emails.  You are also entitled to overnight accommodation if you are to be re-routed the day after your planned flight and, depending on the circumstances, to monetary compensation.
If the aircraft has a technical defect, can it be considered as “extraordinary circumstances”?
NO – a technical problem which comes to light during normal aircraft maintenance or is caused by the failure to correctly maintain an aircraft cannot be regarded as “extraordinary circumstances”.

YES – if the technical defect was related to an incident which was not caused by the normal activity of air carriers and falls outside their control due its nature or origin. For example a hidden manufacturing defect uncovered by the aircraft manufacturer or by a competent authority, or damage to the aircraft caused by acts of sabotage or terrorism would qualify as extraordinary circumstances.
My flight has been delayed for four hours. Am I entitled to monetary compensation?
Once your flight has been delayed for more than three hours, you may be entitled to monetary compensation if the airline cannot prove that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
 
When I arrived at the check-in, I was informed that my Brussels-Warsaw flight had been cancelled.  I opted not to travel and was told that the cost of my ticket would be refunded and that I would receive financial compensation.  Weeks later I still have received nothing.  Is there a time limit for payment of refunds and compensation?
YES – you should have received the refund of the cost of your ticket within seven days of the cancellation. Payment of compensation depends on the reason for the cancelled flight but the EU rules do not provide for a deadline for payment of compensation.
Am I entitled to compensation only for flights that were cancelled or can I also get compensation for delayed flights?
Both. With cancelled/delayed flights, you won’t receive compensation if the cancellation/delay was due to extraordinary circumstances for example due to bad weather. Where the cancellation/delay was due to extraordinary circumstances, you may not have the right to compensation, but the carrier must still offer you assistance (reimbursement or re-routing) and care (meals and/or accommodation) while you are waiting for alternative transport.
See main information on this topic
Air passenger rights
EU legislation
EU Regulation on air passenger rights
European Commission Interpretative Guidelines on air passenger rights
EU Regulation on common rules for the operation of air services
EU Regulation on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage

 

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Lago di Garda

Oh crap, the canceled my FLIGHT!!!!

It is only a matter of time untill something like that happens. It happened to us twice. Once in Vienna, and the last time in Rome. We were on vacanza, so it was not the end of the world, but it involved extra costs.  In Rome we had to stay an extra three days  ( so hard to take).  The airline had a bogus reason but never went into details.

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As we were in the airport to leave my wife found a notice in the airport regarding the rights of passengers in the EU. Click the link below to bring you to this page.

EU Passenger Rights

Much has been written on this subject, but if your are delayed or have your flight canceled check this site. Also check it if your baggage is lost or delayed. Last year Air Berlin would not let us bring our suitcase as carry on even though our connection was only an hour. Our baggage did not make it.

We went back to the airline (Eurofly USA div of Meridiana) through our credit card company and saved almost $1000. They did not contest our chargeback through the credit card company.

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With all our trips to Italy, still like Alitalia the best.

 

The site below may be of help also:

Air Help

May the help be with you!

 

 

 

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