TFC Responds. ITA Airways in Star Alliance, what will happen to those flying Skyteam
What will happen to the tickets already issued to ITA Airways status holders, this is one of the big questions that everyone [...]

What will happen to tickets already issued to ITA Airways status holders, this is one of the big questions that all Volare frequent flyers are asking themselves.
In this article:
This question, declined in many versions, is by far the one I have been asked most in recent weeks. Ever since the confirmation and appointment of the new Board came, it has been a continuum of doubt. Of course ITA Airways has published its FAQ., but as always, companies tend to see the glass half full and not to highlight the negative aspects of this transition.
When ITA moves to Star Alliance, all Volare members will lose Skyteam privileges
There is not much to go around, we have had a clear example September when SAS took the reverse route, that is, it exited Star Alliance to join Skyteam.
It is not yet clear whether the switch-off will be immediate, i.e., whether ITA will make the switch from one day to the next, or whether there will be a window of time during which the Italian company will be "without" an alliance.
In any case what is certain is that on X day for passengers who have tickets issued to fly on Skyteam carriers everything will change. The Volare card will no longer be associated with those flights, and passengers will lose all associated privileges based on status. Goodbye lounge access, fast track, priority boarding, mileage accrual and especially free baggage.
A promiscuous situation will not be possible, if not the other way around, that is, the Lufthansa group, could at this transitional stage, already open Miles&More to Volare status holders.
There will be a Status Match war
Travelers, however, need not worry, we will witness a real Status Match war.. Just in the second half of 2024 we witnessed a real SAS frequent flyer hunt, which, however, has spread to half the world, for the first time we have seen such an action taken by an alliance, Star Alliance had launched an initiative in which the traveler was free to choose any of the alliance's programs.
I therefore expect aggressive actions by Flying Blue toward Flying Blue members, and vice versa. Likewise, I foresee other programs jumping in to hunt for Italian frequent flyers. This will allow everyone to hold status in both alliances.
There will also be inconvenience
We have seen this with SAS as well, if it will be a hot swap, that is, a change in which some passengers will take off Skyteam and land Star Alliance, will not go smoothly given the complexity of the operation.
From back-crediting Skyteam flights to issues related to changes in tickets issued by ITA on other carriers, this move will not be painless. Even worse, however, should it be a buffer period without an alliance. Passengers with ITA tickets could find themselves without a lounge in Tokyo, Paris or Los Angeles, without fast track in London or Madrid. In short, if as we read Volare continues to exist, these will not be easy days for those flying ITA.
TFC responds is our column where we try to clarify the doubts of our readers, if you want to write us the questions by email, on social or leave it below in the comments.