It is rumored on FlyerTalk that AA will be announcing changes in its flights to Italy:
-"Chicago-Rome will be suspended between September 2008 and April 2009"
-"JFK-Milan will not operate on Mondays, Wednesdays"
-"JFK-Rome will not operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays"

So a heads-up to be watching for an announcement if you've booked any of these flights. I'm still crying - well, almost -- because AA is cutting out its flight from Honolulu to Chicago.

Well, since you brought the subject up, and it does have to do with travel, I'll say that I just don't understand the airlines. Rather than raise ticket prices to cover expenses, they continue to cut services and routes. They say they can't raise ticket prices because people will stop flying. Then they cut services, which is even more likely to make people stop flying.

They're trying to fill the planes. Less choice means more people crammed into each flight. It's not surprising. You save fuel and wages. Plus it's easier to raise prices when the planes are full to the gills. So don't worry I'm sure prices will be going up to.

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It is rumored on FlyerTalk that AA will be announcing changes in its flights to Italy:
-"Chicago-Rome will be suspended between September 2008 and April 2009"

Don't you just love the word "rumor". After checking with American Airlines, it appears American will be flying the FCO - ORD route on a daily basis through October 25th. After that date they do not appear to have flights scheduled during the "off-season" months for ORD. It does appear that they will maintain their FCO and JFK route for the off-season months.

Two years ago, American had NO service out of FCO during the off-season months. For the last two years, they have offered daily service from FCO during the off season months - alternating to ORD & FCO every other day. We do fly FCO - DFW during the off-season, and it looks like our choice of connecting flights in the USA will be limited to JFK - which is perfectly fine with us, as American's terminal at JFK is wonderful now.

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Well, since you brought the subject up, and it does have to do with travel, I'll say that I just don't understand the airlines. Rather than raise ticket prices to cover expenses, they continue to cut services and routes.

To answer your question, it is simply a matter of economics. To fly trans-Atlantic with very low occupancy flights, the airlines would definitely have to increase their fares, which would reduce passenger loads, thus causing the airlines to increase the fares again, thus further reduced loads, etc, etc. As it stands now, the fares for off-season to Europe are extremely low and a great value.

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Less choice means more people crammed into each flight. It's not surprising. You save fuel and wages. Plus it's easier to raise prices when the planes are full

It is not really less choice, unless you live in the Chicago area. While we would love for American to have non-stop flights from DFW (their headquarters) to FCO, they do not. So, it means we must have a connecting flight in either Chicago or New York. It is no big deal.

Thanks for the heads up, Ann. Especially useful info for travelers wishing to hedge against the dreadful exchange rate by traveling off-season.

I've been over on Flyer Talk too - I fly into Rome on Delta and seems those flights are limited too.

Bill/Patty, do you fly business or coach?

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It is not really less choice, unless you live in the Chicago area. While we would love for American to have non-stop flights from DFW (their headquarters) to FCO, they do not. So, it means we must have a connecting flight in either Chicago or New York. It is no big deal.

yes it is less choice. I live in Minneapolis/St Paul. I try to travel in the winter to Italy for a lot of reasons. I try to travel on flights where I have to make only one connection because of security and a lot of reasons nowdays, everytiome you make a connection, you risk not making it to your distination anymore. Chicago is one of the hubs by me that I can use to make an internmational connection. If I fly on Lufthansa or Zurich air, I have to make 2 connections: MSP-Chicago-EU city-FCO.

I can travel on NW/KLM or Delta (when I can find a direct flight to Atlanta), but American was a third alternative for me for a cheap flight with only one connection. I jsut flew to Rome and back on American this month.

Oh well, with 2 kids in college next year, I probably will make only one trip anyway in 2009. someone else will have to do their part to stimulate the Italian economy

For people trying to get to Italy from Chicago, Air One is a new option. (See this thread. I'm not sure if flights will be scheduled off-season though, and they are only flying to Milan; you have to connect from there to Rome.

- Roz

Alitalia has nonstop service from ORD to FCO which should continue throughout the winter (assuming Alitalia stays in business). Air One has replaced Alitalia on the nonstop ORD/MXP route. Hopefully, this service will also continue into the winter. Winter service on these routes, however, will not be daily.

My point, Bill, was not to slam AA -- Paul and I each have over 3 million miles on AA and are loyal customers. My point was to warn people about impending changes, and the "rumor" as you call it turns out to be substantially correct, although the change in the ORD/FCO schedule will occur in October rather than September. I think every bit of info that helps travelers make good decisions today is helpful.

Ann, I did not intend any disrespect to you. Rumor was just the word I read in your initial post. My reference to "rumor" was to clarify the facts of the flights after checking with American. The ORD flights can not even be booked at this time for those dates.

We are also long time and loyal American passengers. American just emailed us a couple of hours ago to inform us they had upgraded us for our flight to Dallas in July. We love them - they take great care of us.

Again, we did not mean to infer that you were slamming American. We appreciate your update on the fall flights, as we will be flying then, too.

Ann, I absolutely agree with you that one of the purposes of ST is to keep each other informed about pending changes in travel--particularly in the current climate that we find ourselves. All the info we can gather may help us to make semi-informed decisions. Keep sharing. Now--since we are loyal United flyers (amazing what mileage does), let me know what you hear about them. Right now we are going through a seat hassle with them.I used to love flying--whats happened?

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Now--since we are loyal United flyers (amazing what mileage does), let me know what you hear about them.

Jane, this may not help you from the West Coast, but I understand that Air One code shares with United. Maybe if you can't get a direct flight from California, there would be some way to connect on United via Chicago.

- Roz