From Italy to Europe, who offers a real business class seat.

From historic Ryanair to EasyJet to carriers that last less than 12 months before shutting down their engines, Italy is the realm of low-cost airlines, the companies that have revolutionized the way we travel. For some for the worse, for others for the better. On the one hand, however, many things have changed since the late 1990s, when it was easy to Book a flight with 9,999 lira all-inclusive. Today, however, between carry-on baggage, checked baggage, priority boarding seat choice, and other "frills" the final price of the ticket is not much different from that of a traditional airline.

Similarly, traditional carriers have reduced on-board services by increasingly resembling low-cost carriers. Starting with the inches available When you board an airplane. One thing that has disappeared, or perhaps never really existed in Europe, is true business class on board short- to medium-haul flights.

Recently, however, the pandemic has forced companies to invent strategies to stay afloat. Thus, we have seen carriers such as Lufthansa use 747s to take Germans on vacation to the Balearic Islands, as well as other companies launch flights between European cities to keep planes from sitting idle in parking lots. Then there are companies, although they are few, that regularly use planes equipped with a true business class seat on particularly busy routes.

Why it is useful to know the routes

The reason is quickly stated. There are airlines that regularly fly routes from Italy to other European cities using wide-body planes instead of the classic single-aisle planes. The difference is that, on the latter, those traveling in business have the same seat as in economy with the guarantee of having the next seat free.

In contrast on a wide-body plane, you have a real business class seat that becomes a bed with a TV screen, plenty of space on board, and a much better experience. At the same price.

The point is exactly this: a flight from Milan to Madrid with AirEuropa is still the same price even if it changes planes, but between flying on the 787 or the 737 there is a gulf in terms of travel quality. The reason is simple: plane changes can happen for many reasons, and by not practicing any fare difference, the passenger convinced that he or she is on a British Airways' A380, instead of on an A320, he will have nothing to complain about.

Why it's good to travel in a real business chair

First, because for the same price, the comfort of travel changes enormously. Second, because the seat becomes a real bed, so even on a flight of less than 3 hours, you can push a button, sleep and arrive relaxed at your destination. You can also watch a movie on the seat monitor, a possibility that no other narrow-body aircraft offers in Europe today.

Italian routes operated with wide-body aircraft unfortunately, it must be said, are not very many, but we certainly have two of the most interesting ones at the level of the old continent.

AirEuropa

The 787/8 and sometimes even /9 are regular guests from Madrid to Rome and Milan Malpensa, in rotation along with smaller 737/800s. AirEuropa often uses its wide-body aircraft in the old continent: to meet peak demand in the high season and to compact passengers from two or more connections with smaller aircraft into a single flight.

Starting with the two daily flights that are operated between Madrid and Barcelona, precisely with the Dreamliner. The other routes where the Spanish carrier uses this model are to the Canary Islands (again as a domestic flight), Amsterdam and Athens in Europe. Again, there is a subtle difference. If the route is operated with a 787/9, you will travel in the new business class cabin, conversely it will be in the old one. In any case a gulf compared to flying, for the same price, on a 737.

Turkish Airlines

The Turkish carrier is the only one that, regardless of the aircraft used, still offers a true business class seat. Of course, the difference between a seat on a 737 and a seat on an A330 is a lot, but in any case you will be traveling in a completely different way than what is offered by any other carrier heading to Istanbul from Italy or the rest of Europe.

From Milan at least one connection a day is operated with an A330/200 or the larger /300 version. In contrast, other connections can be made by A321 or B737max, both of which are equipped with a seat that is more comfortable than in economy but does not become a bed. In some periods it is also easy to find the same plane at Rome Fiumicino.

Similarly, the StarAlliance member carrier flies wide-body aircraft throughout much of Europe, from London to Paris, Frankfurt to Madrid.

Singapore Airlines

These two flights are the result of adjustments to the covid. A flight connecting Rome with Copenhagen has been operating since last July. e Milan Barcelona was recently launched. In this case you have the opportunity to travel at a competitive price compared to other airlines flying the same route, but by doing so aboard the Asian carrier's flagship A350/900.

These two flights, which we have often talked about here at TFC, are also perfect for earning easy points in the Krisflyer loyalty program and obtain/renew the status which is valid in all StarAlliance companies.

These are the almost certain flights at the moment (February 2022) to fly from Italy with this type of aircraft. Then there are many other opportunities starting from other European airports.

• Finnair With its A350s, it connects London, Brussels, and Amsterdam daily with Helsinki
• Iberia Fly from Madrid to London with the A330s and A350 and to Brussels with only the A330
• British Airways, after bringing the A380 to stretch its wings around Europe, now uses 787s to fly to Amsterdam, Madrid and Stockholm
• Lufthansa with its subsidiaries such as Condor and Eurowings often uses wide-body aircraft to tourist routes dear to the Germans. Last summer it used the 747s and A340s to fly to Palma de Mallorca. and it seems that the experiment will be repeated in 2022, with possible addition of other destinations.
• Aer Lingus, such as Lufthansa, plans to use its larger aircraft for busy routes this summer.

In conclusion

I have flown 3 of these routes already and recommend them to those who have never had a chance to travel on one of these planes. Sure, flying Ryanair costs a little less, but being treated with kid gloves instead of fish in the face is priceless. In fact.