My "first time" on Aeroitalia's ATR: review of Bergamo/Rome flight
Italy is a market dominated by low-cost airlines; we are the country in the EU where companies (read Ryanair) have twisted the [...]
AeroItalia
FCO
Italy is a market dominated by low-costs, we are the country in the EU where companies (read Ryanair) have disrupted the market and allowed millions and millions of travelers to move across Europe, but we are also probably the one that has seen the most attempts to launch new carriers.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- ATR62
- Class:
- Economy
- Treat:
- BGY - FCO
- Price:
- 28€
- Book
The best bonuses
Before Aeroitalia the last company to try this had been Ego Airways., e I had been one of the two paying passengers on the inaugural Parma/Bari flight. For the record, that company lasted less than a season.
Aeroitalia on the contrary is holding out, indeed numbers in hand has closed its first two financial statements in the black, something for aviation economic history books.
Of course it is also known for his battles with ITA Airways and for relations with airports. Above all, however, to the passenger Is known for its route openings and closures. We flew on the historic Trapani/Catania, link lasted just long enough to enter Italian aviation history as a The only intraregional scheduled flight of the 3rd millennium..
There was the double attempt with the Bergamo London, and the Rome Fiumicino, opened and closed several times.
Just on the route from Milan (Bergamo) Fiumicino I boarded after buying a ticket for just under 28€.. Price that was "public," but this time the Bum took advantage of a friend who works(goes) for the company to get the discount, or rather I did not pay for the trolley in the cabin. Actually I would have also had the suitcase in the hold, but that is something I never have when I fly except for family vacation.
At the airport
The flex ticket also has privileged counters, but I as always at BGY take advantage of my Priority Pass and go directly to the small airside lounge to check in (if you wish, you can also board your luggage from here).
In addition to retrieving my boarding pass, I also took advantage of the fast track to skip the queue. A free benefit that everyone who flies low-cost should take advantage of thanks to American Express Platinum. Passed the checks, those still do you have to get everything out of your backpack, I left for the Hello Sky lounge, again excellent and free, again thanks to PP.
To finish, I walked around the beautiful terminal and sat down to wait for boarding.
Boarding which went off on time, as it always does at BGY, no fingers and ladders and then bus to get under the plane. The only note, but one that is a kudos to the company, we did not move while waiting for the last late boarding passenger.
Bravo to Aeroitalia, other carriers would have closed the gate And left the passenger on the ground.
By airplane
Aeroitalia uses an ATR62/600, formerly a Air Connect, an Eastern European airline that was recently taken over. with its two planes that were already flying for Aeroitalia.
Getting below board by bus, making the 360-degree turn of the plane for a sick person like me is a gift, not an inconvenience.
The special feature is that on these planes you board from the back, and I merely joined (last) the queue of passengers, just in time to enjoy the spectacle of the runway and take a few photos.
My seat was 1C, which is the first row, the emergency exit row and the one with the most legroom.
The chair
Classic 2-2 configuration, with no optional extras (other than the emergency door).
Of course the ATR is no longer very popular, but in Europe it is still used a lot by companies like SAS, Finnair And in the rest of the world.
Little to say about the chair: air vents, coffee table, and light. That's all folks.
There is then a beautiful view of the engines, but for flying from Bergamo to Rome, at less than the cost of the train, it is absolutely perfect.
There is also a bathroom in the queue, the only one on the plane, small and fragrant.
Service
Two attendants, for the maximum 68 passengers, who welcomed passengers and offered a glass of the water (free) during the flight.
In conclusion
Flight took off a few minutes late, but because of a passenger, arrived on time at a price of less than €30 without the trolley, rising to about €100 with trolley and choice of seat.
Purchasing advice: I wouldn't pay for fast track (there's Priority Pass for that) or even for priority boarding, in fact better to board last and enjoy the unusual view from the runway.
Pro
- Price
Against
- Nothing to report