Everything you need to know about Italo Treno: the fleet, loyalty program, lounges and award tickets
Italo Treno, the trade name of the amaranth carrier of the private group NTV, which has been traveling at high speed since April 28, 2012 [...]
Italo Treno, trade name of amaranth carrier of private group NTV, which has been traveling at high speed on tracks throughout Italy since April 28, 2012, Is one of the travel partners of the American Express Membership Rewards program., from which you can convert your points to travel without spending a single cent. As of 2023, Italo acquired Itabus, making its service widespread, integrating rail and road. Let's find out more about what invaluable benefits the first private high-speed rail company offers its frequent travelers.
The fleet
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Italo has a total fleet of 51 trains at its disposal, with 25 AGV 575 (with a maximum speed of 360 km/h, approved at 300 for Italian lines) and 26 ETR 675 trains, also known as Italo EVO (max 250 km/h), of which the former designed and built in France and the latter designed and assembled in Italian factories.
The best bonuses
Both trains have been reconfigured to three classes (which Italo calls environments) for a few years now: changing from Smart, SmartXL (later Comfort), Prima and Club Executive to Smart, Prima and Club Executive.
The latter provides the most exclusive travel environment, which is the Saloon, a small private suite for up to four travelers, where on-site catering is available with bakery items, snacks and beverages. On the road, on the other hand, Itabus puts 100 new-generation luxury buses with two travel classes and on-board snack and beverage service.
The loyalty program
The company provides its users with a loyalty program known as ItaloPiù. Membership is completely free and, just because you have decided to open an account, you will receive a discount of 5% on the first trip made.
Loyalty levels, based on the accumulation of level points, are officially four: Member, Premium, Privilege and Platinum. Available, for customers of affiliated companies and members of Italo Impresa, the upgrade to corporate levels from Premium to higher, with even greater benefits.
- Two trips are enough to reach the Member level, whatever the route;
- 800 level points are needed for the premium level;
- For the Privilege 2500;
- For the Platinum 6500.
These thresholds have been on promotion for about a year and could be updated when the loyalty program expires on March 31, 2024.
Each level, starting from Premium, has dedicated benefits: accelerators in points accumulation; fast track in main stations (Roma Termini, Milano Centrale, Firenze S. Maria Novella); free environment upgrades from Smart to Prima; lounge access, with companion in stations where present (access guaranteed only on departure and to a companion traveling on the same train); 10% discount on ticket price in Flex fare in Prima and Club (only for Platinum level); free choice of standard seat.
The table below specifies all the benefits level by level.
As we well know from the experience of airline programs, there are hidden levels, attainable only by invitation or linked to special conventions of the company. Italo, thanks to a full-bodied agreement with American Express, offers Carta Centurion holders the opportunity to obtain the exclusive ItaloPiù Black status, which includes all the benefits of the Platinum level and as much as 30% discount on the flex fare in Prima and Club.
By joining ItaloPiù, it is possible to take advantage of the conventions that the company offers from time to time in each user's private area: Booking, Hertz (with whom a Platinum-level status match campaign has also been made), AppTaxi, Verisure and, of course, American Express with Italo credit card.
The latter allows, once approved, immediate Premium level, 4 vouchers for lounge access each year, and a free upgrade.
Award tickets and upgrades
In addition to level points, which grant status and allow you to maintain it, there are ItaloPiù points, which are the expendable currency for obtaining completely free travel.
Italo has a flat, tabular system of award routes with the price in predetermined points, depending on the seats available on board and the mileage of the route. There are two tables (below) of award thresholds: long leg (more than 330 km) and short leg (less than 330 km). Simulation for ticket purchase is possible from the restricted area only when you have reached the minimum threshold for short leg travel in Smart.
Italo allows you to change the date and time of the award ticket with only 10€, as well as the possibility of giving it as a gift to someone: just go to the station and change the name to that of the future passenger. The validity of the award ticket is 180 days.
Quite different is the environment upgrade situation, where - for the record - Italo does not make it very clear on its site how it is obtained. The upgrade can be requested at the same time as the purchase of a ticket, only through the call centers at 060708 (free) and 892020 (paid), from Smart to Prima, valid on any available tariff (yes, even the lowest ever). Obviously, the accumulation of points will be relative, if eligible, to the originally purchased tariff and not to the next environment.
Accumulation of points
As with any self-respecting loyalty program, the more you travel, the more you accumulate with points. With Italo, however, you have to be careful, especially if you are seeking the coveted Platinum. In fact, not all fares allow you to accumulate tier points, and some don't even allow ItaloPiù points. The fares, in fact, that allow for status advancement are only the Flex, Economy, A/R On-Day and Carnet Flex fares, while the Low Cost fare only allows for the accumulation of ItaloPiù points. All other promotional fares, which are tempting because of their very low price, do not earn anything. As with award tickets, point accumulation is based on the category of the route (short or long), the type of environment, and the fare purchased.
The simple table above, allows you, net of accelerators and bonus double points that Italo offers from time to time in certain months of the year, to calculate how many points you will get from your next trip. For corporate customers, it adds, on a promotional basis, 10% extra points if the ticket is purchased through the Italo Impresa platform.
The only way to accumulate points by not traveling is to do so with American Express, By converting their Membership Rewards points to the Italo Più program.. The conversion, of 1 ItaloPiù point for every 2 MR points, has been available since mid-December for all Amex cards enrolled in the Membership Rewards program, whereas previously it was an exclusive benefit of the Italo Card only.
Lounge
Italo offers its most loyal customers in the Privilege and Platinum levels, as well as passengers with a ticket in the Club Executive environment and holders of Italo American Express Credit Card vouchers, the opportunity to access Italo Club lounges in the stations of Roma Termini, Milano Centrale, Napoli Centrale, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Venezia Santa Lucia and Torino Porta Susa.
Status holders may also bring a companion with them, as long as they travel on the same train. Access is provided only on departure, not on arrival, and up to 3 hours before departure.
For the past year, however, Italo has also opened access for travelers in Prima and Smart, paying €12 for stations in Rome, Milan and Florence and €8 for others.
The price difference lies in the service offered: in all lounges there is basic service with Wi-fi, power outlets, private bathrooms, sweet and savory snacks, and hot or cold beverages, including alcoholic beverages. In the lounges offering "renewed" service (quoting the company) we find a small served buffet of savory and sweet bakery and pastry products depending on the time of day (breakfast, lunch, and aperitif), a choice of packaged cocktails, white and red wine, prosecco, and soft drinks, accompanied, of course, by the cafeteria.
A little pampering that, in the chaos of Italian stations with less and less seating and comfort, is certainly always good for you.