ITA Airways business class review, Rome to Barcelona: how nice to see staff smiling
This was my second experience aboard ITA, the first with a flight out of Italy. I had to go [...]
ITA Airways
SkyTeam
FCO
This was my second experience aboard ITA, the first with a flight out of Italy.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- A320
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- FCO - BCN
- Price:
- 110
- Book
I had to go to Barcelona for Kicking off my first miles run of 2022. and so I decided to kill the classic two birds with one stone. By booking this ticket, I triggered the gift designed by American Express and ITA Airways for old Alitalia cardholders. In my case I will receive two tickets to fly to the United States this summer for free.
I waited about a month to publish this review, Because I was waiting for the fateful date of March 1, viz. The beginning of phase II of the Volare loyalty program.
Reservation
ITA Airways is holding a very aggressive business attitude, in some cases reminding me of Armchairs and Sofas, Since it is continuously being promoted, with flash offers that change names but are always very similar in substance: 30/35% discount on short/medium haul flights and 20% on long haul.
I opted for a round-trip ticket in business flex because the cost was effectively the same as in economy. Echo tickets, not flexible, cost 65 euros one way, the flexible one 100€; while the one in fully flexible business, therefore also cancellable without penalty, 110€.
My Volare profile balance increased by 3,314 points. To calculate how many points you accumulate, I also wrote an article now that all the rules have been made public.
Obviously there was a minor inconvenience as can be seen from the statement. The connection on GOA in the evening was cancelled and I ended up at Linate, but that's another story.
Approaching Rome
Being from Liguria, my flights often leave from Genoa airport, especially if I have to fly via Rome, so I got to try again the experience in Superior, i.e. business class, on domestic flights.
I must say that many of the defects/problems found in the my first experience have been resolved, or perhaps the machine is now better oiled and procedures have been assimilated.
As soon as I disembarked at Fiumicino, I was directed at lightning speed to the Piazza di Spagna lounge. This is the second reason I decided to fly ITA and did not opt for a faster flight from Nice or Milan: I wanted to test the old Alitalia lounge, now reopened under the effigies of ITA Airways.
The hall remained the same, is not operational at 100% but the staff was really courteous and smiling.
The buffet is not on par with what is found in many other lounges, but I am rooting for ITA and hope that with new ownership we can finally return to the glory of yesteryear.
The flight
The business booth is the classic, i.e., central seat turned into a small table and curtain separating the two areas of the plane. It's like this for everyone in Europe, except in very rare cases, such as with Turkish Airlines or some routes where carriers use, for non-commercial reasons, aircraft intended for long-haul.
The smiling and courteous staff was a pleasant constant on both flights and in the lounge, something that has not happened so frequently in years in Alitalia.
We have already written it several times, at the moment ITA Airways is renewing the livery of its planes, those it took over from Alitalia: the change, however, is only on the fuselage; inside, everything is as before.
The changes, if any, will come in the coming months (weeks?) when the new planes ordered directly from Airbus by ITA are delivered.
Business passengers were served lunch. I very much appreciated that ITA Airways has restored service to 100% on intra-EU routes as well. Also using all leftover stock marked AZ, Because it is right not to throw anything away.
Unlike what is offered by other airlines, e.g., KLM, which still offers a box to its biz passengers, ITA served a hot dish.
I must say that the ravioli with fish filling was really good. In addition to the hot dish, there was a salad and a slice of cake.
The only flaw is that no menu is given., had I known I was going to have fish dumplings, I would not have covered them with a bag of grated cheese.
In conclusion
Of course, business class on EU flights is so, but it would be nice if ITA decided to enter the market by offering a different product On the new fleet that will soon enter service. As is the case in the US. It could be a way to differentiate, intercept a premium clientele that could then become attached and also fly intercontinental with the Italian airline.
The same argument could also apply in economy. Take a cue from those, such as Lufthansa and British Airways, offers gourmet products for a fee could be a way to cash in a few more euros and make customers happy. I remain hopeful that ITA can surprise everyone with the cabins of the new planes, a way to say "Hey we have arrived and now we are coming to steal your customers with our Italian Style."
This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site, covid and restrictions permitting. Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.
Pro
- The smiling staff
- Lunch
Against
- The old cabin