From Paris to Istanbul, New York to Jeddah: how life changes for the better (or worse) of Italian frequent flyers
Economic-political discussions we at TFC leave them to the gray eminences of journalism; we like to talk about life [...]
Economic-political discussions we at TFC leave them to the gray eminences of journalism, we like to talk about real life and how the habits of ITA Airways passengers will change in the coming months.
In this article:
As we have written from the beginning the first "momentous" change will be the move from Skyteam to Star Alliance.
ITA today and Alitalia before have always been members of the youngest of the alliances of the skies and instead will now move to Star Alliance the oldest of the three, founded on March 14, 1997 by Lufthansa, United, Thai Airways, Air Canada and SAS Scandinavian, just SAS on September 1 will take the reverse route and leave SA To enter ST.
It doesn't just mean a logo change on the fuselage of planes, but getting used to different partners, different terminals and airports, and most importantly, different rules.
New terminals and new airports
Among European airports, considering. ITA no longer flies to London Heathrow, Paris CDG is definitely the one where the lives of AZ passengers will be profoundly different. The move begun last year will be completed.
AZ flights will depart from Terminal 1 at the Paris airport. A historic facility with unique architecture, for the connection to the center hardly changes, it will change for the better instead the life of Italian passengers. Today in terminal 2B, where ITA flights depart. there is no lounge, upon moving in instead. there will be as many as 2 Star Alliance lounges, one of which was voted as the best in the world in its category.
Also inevitable is that ITA's blue livery will land, for the first time, on the other side of Manhattan, en route to Newark EWR, United does not fly from JFK, and so to fly via New York it will be likely that at least one flight a day, if not two, of the connections to the Big Apple will target this airport.
Speaking of lounge changes from LAX to HND, via JFK to BKK.
The lounge network, for airports served by ITA will definitely see improved life for Italian passengers.
In some cases the exchange will be painless, for example in Tokyo Haneda from Delta SkyClub at theANA Lounge. Same at Los Angeles, you go from the beautiful SkyClub at equally beautiful Star Alliance Lounge.
ITA has not yet begun to Flying to Bangkok, But at Thai Airways' home airport, there is no match between the Air France lounge (used by all Skyteam carriers) to the Royal Orchid by Thai or to other Star Alliance lounges such as the spacious hall of EVA Air.
In Munich, Frankfurt and Lufthansa's other hubs, the change will really be like Going from a 2-star hotel to a starred restaurant. Not only are the lounges at these airports better than independents, but for the first time Italian FFs will have to share since those traveling in business have different lounges from those traveling with Gold Star Alliance Status.
The entrance to the Skyteam lounge in Istanbul.
I have never been to the Skyteam lounge in Istanbul, which was recently damaged by fire, but TK's lounges are really spectacular.
In New York City, bank JFK, there is a change in parity. From the AF lounge, frequent flyers and business class passengers, will stop by the opposite side of the terminal in Lufthansa's home, pending the Moving into the new T6 when it is ready.
Buenos Aires will say goodbye to the Aerolineas Argentinas lounge and you will be able to use the beautiful Star Alliance hall instead. Things will be much worse in Amsterdam it will be said goodbye KLM lounges to sit in the alliance one. Things will certainly improve in Washington IAD, San Francisco SFO and Chicago ORD and Toronto YYZ.
A HUGE loss, however, will be that of Jeddah, ITA passengers, except by agreement, will be able to Access the beautiful, but normal, independent lounge Losing what I think remains one of the 3 best lounges in the world the AlFursan in Saudia.
Separate chapter for Malpensa. If nothing will change at Linate, at MXP where AZ does not fly today, you will be able to take advantage of access to the Lufthansa lounge, significantly better than the independent halls currently present and used by all Skyteam carriers.
In conclusion
It will take some time, about 12 to 18 months, to get to the move from Skyteam to Star Alliance, but it is certain that more than one traveler will find himself in front of the door of the "usual" lounge out of habit instead of in the new one, bearable damage, much worse on the other hand if he gets the wrong terminal, but for that there is still time to study and do homework.
