Ongoing update: Here's how to fly (in business class) on ITA Airways' A350 in late 2025

To those who don't know me it might seem strange that I haven't set foot on an ITA Airways wide-body aircraft for over a year, indeed we could say almost two. My last trip on the A330/900 was in early 2024, When we had done the "comparison" together with my colleagues.

And if I think that I haven't set foot aboard the flagship A350 since back in 2022, I had flown to Tokyo on ITA's inaugural flight, that's practically a lifetime ago. Let's say that in between there have been three different CEOs in ITA Airways, as many presidents and different heads of the press office.

As I often recount, my tickets are composed differently from those of normal people and the reason is simple: I find a ticket and then build everything else around it.

For example, this itinerary developed as follows:

1. in early 2025 I booked two tickets to fly first class aboard the Suites on the A380 Singapore Airlines.
2. In September, I booked two tickets, one way, to Bangkok with ITA because that way I could see how the service had changed on board the A330, but especially made the points necessary to renew premium status (except then become useless)
3. Finally, a few days before leaving, I booked Two tickets with Scoot to fly from BKK to SIN.

Three experiences I have for personal pleasure (it's my birthday), But which I also obviously turn into video stories and in words on the site and channel. We could call it smart working or bleisure.

Reservation

When I opted for ITA I did so because, in addition to the need to review, I also had a need for qualifying Volare points to renew the premium level. Too bad then, ten days before leaving, Miles&More renewed ex officio, until 2027, the Senator card obtained through the very first MS this spring.

In hindsight I could then have used points with other vectors, but in this case there still remained a need to showcase the ITA product on the eve of the transition into the Lufthansa family. And so, complicit in the one-way ticket, this trip cost me so much, when compared to the fact that with the right promo you can fly €1,400 round trip with ITA to Bangkok.

Not needing to accumulate on Volare, we both put on our Miles&More cards and accumulated Points, QPoints and HON Circle Points. in addition, of course, to Miles&More miles.

At the airport

We left from Linate because we are going back to Linate, so that way I could visit the Runway Lounge at Forlanini, then enter the new Prima Vista at FCO for the first time. and finally go to see how work is progressing in the Hangar Lounge.

Then we passed through an airport packed with passengers: really October is the new July for many (including Italians). After passing through security, we headed to dear old Casa Alitalia. Here, after two slices of freshly baked pizza and four chats with the staff, we headed for boarding.

On board

Airport packed and airplane capped, with all jump seats assigned, as if it were very high season. Certainly Bangkok is a top destination, but it is also true that ITA is suffering greatly from competition from Thai from Milan, but also from all the other airlines that gravitate to Italian stopovers and that with a stopover take you in the same time to the Kingdom of Thailand.

I am familiar with the configuration of these A330s: I had the privilege of being invited to the delivery flight of the first car that entered the fleet and it has not changed since then, it is just more experienced (and less clear).

Marika and I were in the outside row, one behind the other. I did not opt for the two middle seats for the simple fact that they are really not very honeymoon-like: the middle structure is really tall and bulky, then we might as well travel window view.

Of course, all passengers have direct access to the aisle and the absence of the central hat rack makes the environment really comfortable. The rest of the car is configured with four rows of premium economy 2-4-2 and then all economy, With comfort front rows, that is, with a few extra inches of legroom.

The chair

The checkerboard positioning allows the odd-numbered rows to be closer to the window and consequently farther from the aisle.

Conversely, the even seats have the structure dividing them from the window and are more exposed to the aisle. Unlike A350s, which are taken at zero kilometers, these machines were configured from scratch by the ITA team. Of the clear interiors we have already written rivers of words, and ITA is running for cover.

ITA's choice not to install ports, as other carriers have done on similar machines, and the choice not to put any kind of closed storage Are the two shortcomings of this business class. Although I discovered that passengers in the even-numbered rows have a small cavity available where they can stash their belongings, something not present in the odd-numbered seats.

I really like the seat configuration, the placement of buttons and sockets is perfect. You don't have to go crazy to find them, you don't click anything by mistake and everything is within easy reach, which is not taken for granted even in more emblazoned companies. The ambient light, the finish: everything is pleasing to the eye and to the touch.

The big flaw of this Vantage XL is that it is not very wide and the fixed armrest really makes space sacrifice for those who are differently skinny like me when you position yourself in bed mode.

The same goes for the tunnel where you have to stick your legs: it is not Mont Blanc, it is more like the Tenda Tunnel.

Privacy, as mentioned, is not top-of-the-line. Sure the rows are staggered, but you are open to the aisle. The shoulder of the structure could have been deeper, but the extra weight would not have changed that much.

The other flaw, common to 8 out of 10 business chairs on the market today, is that with the table set, you can't get up-you don't even need to be a contortionist.

Service

Here I must say ups and downs, joys and sorrows.

No human contact: there was no ad personam greeting, something ITA staff will have to learn because at Lufthansa it is one of those attentions that is never lacking. And I am not just talking about those flying in First with HON Circle status, but also when a Senator flies in the last row of economy.

The boarding procedures took forever, the cabin was hot, and the absence of air vents did not help. Sure a welcome drink was distributed, but then nothing.

No second turn or refill was offered, even when pushback was delayed due to the need to unload the suitcase of an unboarded passenger. The staff had virtually disappeared from the cabin.

On the other hand, the attendant in my area did perfect service: she was able to meet my culinary needs and was really nice to me. As always, I am a paying passenger, not preparing my way by talking to companies, much less seeking favors.  And so the purser came to greet me, not because of my status, but because she recognized il Barbone and it was obvious that my "cover" was blown.

Excellent that ITA distributes the boxed night kit, less good the "stuffing" of the pillow, really too soft.

It continues the tradition of the double amenity kit: aesthetically, it has never changed since it was launched; however, the products have changed, or rather the face mask has disappeared and so has the ... from the QC Terme box.

All in all, the bathrooms were always checked and kept clean.

Last but not least: bell test failed miserably. Not only did my purple light stay on for over 22 minutes before anyone noticed it, but I rang twice, and three times a different assistant passed by my side of the hallway, blithely ignoring it, or more simply not seeing it at all.

Food & Beverage

To review the wine list will have to wait for our Sky Sommelier, but for me it was an opportunity to try the new culinary offerings.

As is well known, AZ changes menus with the seasons, entrusting the creation of the proposals to a different Italian chef each time. This season it is the turn of Chef Giancarlo Morelli, patron of Pomiroeu in Seregno, who earned his first Michelin star in 2009.

I must say I was half satisfied. The appetizer looked to me like a veal tonnato spied in a greengrocer's shop. I liked the ravioli, on the other hand, while as a main course I opted for the guinea fowl: dry, but saved by the sauce, without the truffle. Also in the pictures are the dishes Mairka ordered.

I was not thrilled with the cake, however, but only because it is not a type of cake that excites me.

Also observing attention to detail, really incomprehensible how you can bring a dish in this condition.

A tad sad even the breakfast, especially the presentation of the hot part!

IFE

Here, too, the comments are chiaroscuro. 4K screen and Bluetooth connectivity, lots of content, but very few real innovations. No cameras showing the outdoors, no live TV, and especially expensive Wi-Fi ($30) for 1.5 GB of traffic, but virtually unusable for the flight's 90%.

First a technical problem, which forced the crew to hard reset everything (including seats), and then the lack of coverage due to legislative restrictions, with the subtle difference that although it is known, the passenger is not informed and so over India and Turkey no connection, then either you don't sell me Wi-Fi or you tell me clearly beforehand. Not that I pay 30 euros and then, not even 90 minutes into the flight, total nothingness to my destination (or almost).

In conclusion

I was glad to see the plane packed. Of course there were also some ID90s and several "friends of...," but considering that the destinations in ITA's network are these, it's not surprising. At the ultra-competitive price at which ITA sells this route, I recommend it to everyone. Especially to those who want to splurge on business: for duration/cost, it is definitely the most convenient route.