Ah, Roma.
The city where old meets new in the most spectacular way. Cobblestone streets, the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, chianti with pasta carbonara, Vatican City, and St. Peter’s Basilica… I could go on for eons.
Located on the banks of the Tiber, Italy’s capital is essentially one grande museum with so many world-class antiquities and landmarks that the entire historic city center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than 900 churches are overflowing with works by masters such as Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo. And who can resist la dolce vita, that carefree celebration of life’s beauty and pleasure as only the Italians know how?
An eternal visit begs an unforgettable flight and American Airlines has come to the party with their B-777 offering First Class on their New York-Rome route now through October 19.
We’ve seen fares mid-week for as low as $3,679 (screenshot below) for travel in July and August. If you don’t grab this low First Class fare you can expect to pay anywhere from $4,667 to $8,800.
Compare this to non-stop Business Class fares on American, which range from $2,479 to $5,404, Delta, which range from $2,553 to $6,804, and ITA, which range from $2,553 to $4,117.
Or, compare this to one-stop First Class fares on British Airways with a stop in London. BA closely matches the fare for travel from July to March at $3,696. Otherwise, fares range from $3,984 to $6,071. Meanwhile, Lufthansa ranges from $6,567 to $15,300, and SWISS ranges from $6,592 to $15,600. Those are ranges as high as the Alps!
Not Flying from New York?
First Class fares from other Oneworld cities are expensive right now. If you’re not based in New York, consider positioning flights when special fares are not offered on your route and save up to $9,522.
Fares from other AA hub cities to Rome:
Los Angeles from $7,248 to $10,500
Chicago from $5,098 to $11,300
Dallas from $6,821 to $12,200
Raleigh from $4,826 to $13,200
Charlotte from $5,650 to $11,300
Miami from $5,928 to $8,968
Grosso Fares? Here’s an Italian Job to Lower Them
When fares are high ($5,000+) consider using American miles. Award seat costs range from 72,000 to 440,000(!) each way. As we told you last month, you can save miles by making a connection. The same concept rings true here, as you’ll see below. Here’s a trick on how to score award seats at the lowest prices.
A Stupenda Find
If you are flying directly from New York in July (screenshot below), you will see awards every day for 405,500 one way. But have a look at this: if you fly from Columbus to Rome via New York on July 8 — on the same flight — you will pay just 72,000 miles one way. You can find this 72,000-mile award availability using American miles for travel close to departure, randomly throughout the year, or when adding a connection through New York from an AA hub city, as shown with Columbus.
New York to Rome for 405,500 Miles
Columbus to Rome via New York for 72,000 Miles
No Miles? No Problem
When you can find low-cost award seats using American miles, you can buy 144,000 miles when they are on sale for approximately 2.4 cents each to net up to 30% savings versus published fares. Or you can buy 170,000 Alaska miles when they’re on sale for about 1.74 cents each for up to 40% savings. That’s pretty great when you end up in a First Class seat jetting all the way to and from Rome, an 8+-hour flight from New York.
The cost using British Airways and Iberia is 206,000 miles round-trip. British Airways taxes run around $2,053, while Iberia’s taxes are just $430 round-trip. If you have a ton of Amex points, it’s just 159,000 with British Airways’ frequent 30%-40% bonus. Combine them with your Iberia Avios miles and you’ll save $1,623 on taxes. If you had to buy the miles from Amex at 2.5 cents each, you’d save about 19% when using Iberia miles. It’s still not a great deal when fares are at their lowest, but if you’re an inflexible traveler with firm dates, you might just have to grin and bear it.
First Class Award Seat Availability Trends
A First Class flight to Rome is usually the stuff of mythology. But American Airlines has made it possible in the most bellissimo way — in widebody comfort.
Low-cost award seat availability using American miles is plentiful for up to four travelers in July on the outbound, with a handful of days with seats for travel in April, June, and August. We have seen quite a few days with seats for up to four travelers available on the return for close-in travel in April, June, and July, along with a handful of days with seats in May, August, and September. American is notorious for releasing low-cost award space close in, so that might be a good backup plan or a great chance to upgrade a less attractive existing ticket.
Award seat availability is a bit less using partners Alaska, British Airways, and Iberia miles. You can typically find seats for up to two travelers in June, and in April for a few days outbound, and June and July on the return. Though we have seen days with seats for up to four travelers in July outbound.
Oh by the way, you’ll want to stay at the St. Regis, Rome
We love the American Bar Association membership discount strategy here at FCF and have reported on it many times including here, here, and here. An ABA membership offers great luxury accommodation discounts at top-end hotels such as the Four Seasons, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Savoy (Fairmont), St. Regis, and Westin properties, among others. Membership is just $150 annually, paltry considering how it unlocks fantastic deals. Better still, you don’t have to be a lawyer or judge to join!
Case in point: with the membership, you can save 47% at the St. Regis Rome. The screenshot below shows the average price per night is $1,291 BEFORE the ABA membership discount, and just $636 per night AFTER the discount is applied.
$1,291 per night
$682 per night
You heard it here first! I’ll see you up front, and then at the Pantheon.
[aside headline="Five of Rome’s Lesser Known Jewels
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- The spooky Capuchin Crypt with the remains of over 4,000 Capuchin friars.
- The baroque Church of San Luigi dei Francesi with its Caravaggio paintings.
- Centrale Montmartini – a museum combining industrial architecture with ancient Roman art.
- The fascinating fascist-era Quartiere EUR built during Mussolini’s reign.
- The tranquil Protestant Cemetery – the final resting place of poets Keats and Shelley.
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