pam

We were looking at flying aitalia to rome this summer? How is this airline? Does anyone have any thing good/bad or otherwise to report about it? Thanks to anyone who can help!

cal

Pam,<BR><BR>I have read in a guidebook (I believe it's called Rome Guide) that Alitalia should not be the first choice unless they offer a very good deal. It cited that the airline allows smoking throughout the flight and in the author's words, it's "chaos in the sky".

paula

I assist cal, Alitalia is not the best choose. They are known for bad service and food, rude stuff and delates. The only time I had to take it (Pisa-Frankfurt) we cant get off in Pisa for fog; they carried us by bus to Milano; there they put us into an airplane and didnt tell us where we go, everyone thought we are going to Frankfurt but we landet ... in Pisa. Here we waited 4 hours at the airport and were than packed into the Lufthansa plane to Frankfurt. It took us 12 hours all in all. No sorry, no dinner, no drinks at the airport ...

x

Additionally, Alitalia is subject to frequent labor strikes.

Vita

I used Alitalia for my trip from Washington DC to Rome last year. I've had better flights, but they were adequate. My worst complaint was the that I had to sit on a pillow and crane my neck to see the film. I found the flight staff fine. One attendant yell at a custumer, but the guy was rude and I thought he deserved it.

Mari

We used Alitalia last year for our trip to Italy. It was difficult reaching them for seat assignments (no such thing), flight info, confirmation, etc. Phone reps were rude. Flight was okay -people did not smoke, but they did allow people to stand in aisles throughout the flight. However, I was loudly reprimanded for not neatly packing up my tray after dinner. She told me I made more work for her. Attendant actually pulled out someone else's tray who had done it correctly and put it right under my nose so I could take a good look at it! The tray I handed to her wasn't mine - it was my sister's - but the whole situation was so embarrassing. I did complain to the head attendant and was told she was new to the job. Otherwise, flight was okay.

Traveller

If you think the flight attendants are rude wait till you get to Italy, it is only the beginning. I would put Alitalia at the bottom of my list of airlines and at the bottom of my where to go list too. Who needs to pay for that kind of rudeness? If Italians want to get off with their attitude then let them do it with their own kind. They have made an art form of being rude. Who needs them?<BR>

x

Traveller,<BR>I love Italy, but I have to agree with you 100%. Rude service is the norm. Maybe not in the little mom and pop market out in the country, but it is typical in the stores, restaurants and hotels. They just haven't grasped the concept that the customer is king.

paula

hm, have been to Italy more then 10 times, but havent had problems with rudeness. Just on Alitalia. I find the Italians friendly (more than for ex. the French, Austrians, Jugos ...) and I find Italy one of the most interesting countrys. I like to dine italian, drive italian way, see their culture, but dont fly their way.

ellen

For another view, we flew Milan to Paris on Alitalia. Friendly crew, good food. No complaints.

GAC

It's hit and miss. Some flights are awful, others completely eventless. Some flights are very late, others are punctual and even arrive early. FYI smoking is NOT allowed on ANY Alitalia flights. FYI Alitalia is leaving the UA Air Dividend Miles Program effective December 31, 2002, and also leaving the Continental Frequent Flier Program effective May 31, 2002. Alitalia will remain part of Delta's FF Program.

pam

Heard so many horror stories about alitalia last summer, I almost tried to change my tickets.<BR>The flight left on time, arrived 10 minutes early and other than the most horrid food on earth, this "non-eventful" flight was exactly what I had hoped for. The service was not "rude"...more like "non-existent".<BR>We landed safely in one piece however.

Dana

I have flown Alitalia 4 times from the US to Italy and also within Italy. It is not the best airline and would not be my first choice. They never lost my luggage which is a plus. The flight attendants are not friendly but not openly hostile either. The food is disgusting, but most airplane food is. Most of my flights have been boderline tolerable, but communication is non-existent. I've experienced bad weather, delays over an hour on the tarmac, and a "something wrong with the right wing" incident taxing for take-off in Rome on a 747 headed for NY...it was difficult getting info out of the crew...once they refused to speak English to me on a flight within italy and we were being diverted due to fog in venice...all of this was announced in italian and I had to stand up and beg for an English speaker to explain to moans and groans around me and tell me what airport I was landing at. the attendants claimed not to speak English...finally one appeared and told me what was going in...totally bizzaro behavior on their part but whatever. I would try to avoid them if possible...if it is really cheap though, give it a try...I always got there in the end. itlay is fabulous by the way.

GAC

I am familiar with the many negative posts about Alitalia. I have flown this airline off and on for the past 40 years, so I believe to have a pretty good "feel" for the pros and cons. Some flights I've taken were horrible (unionized flight attendants playing hardball), others quite satisfactory. Once, I was upgraded to business class free of charge, and had a great flight (it was also a free frequent flier ticket!!!). Some flights have arrived very late (usually due to an air traffic controller strike or a mechanical problem), others have actually arrived early. Nowadays, food seems to be bad on many carriers, not just Alitalia. I've lately found the Alitalia flight attendants to be either indifferent or outright friendly. I have not seen a rude attendant on any of the last 15 Alitalia flights I've taken in the past 4 years. On my most recent trip to Italy on Alitalia (in July 2001, flying from LAX to Cagliari), I had to make very tight connections in both Malpensa and Fiumicino, and everything went (surprisingly) very smoothly, even though the flights had no empty seats (however, I carried my luggage with me on the planes). Unfortunately, Alitalia has now pulled out of LAX and SFO, so fewer Americans will be flying Alitalia to Italy, at least for the near future.

Howard

Sure, its food is lousy and sometimes the flight attendants are less than attentive, but Alilalia is not the worst. And, one thing in its favor: The airline was great in giving refunds after 9-11 last fall. No airline was more understanding or cooperative. For that alone, I would fly them again!

Jim Tardio

I have flown Alitalia many times without a problem.<BR><BR>If you were to do a search on every airline in the world, you would come up with just as many negative stories.<BR><BR>Complaints about food really don't mean anything...it's bad on all airlines. I always bring my own.<BR><BR>Complaints about rudeness...well some folks consider it rude when the attendants don't respond immediately to every little request or complaint someone has...I've seen attendants badgered to death from people who cry about eveything from the pillows to the movie selection.<BR><BR>On time flights??? More often than not it's the fault of the airport...not the airline. My father-in-law flew international for TWA for 30 years and this info comes from him.<BR><BR>Just remember this. The filght is long, cramped and boring. Coach is one, big flying cattle-car. The only enjoyable part is when it lands at your destination.