Hello! I've never used the Italian rail system before so I'm wondering what class of ticket I should aim for if my husband and I have 1 shared piece of checked luggage and then we each have a small carry on or backpack? From what I can tell online some of the higher class tickets have more room for luggage but I'm not sure what that means.
I don't want to be the rude people who block aisles or feel like we have to sit on our luggage. Thank you!

Hello!

Have you ever used other(European) rail systems? Italian is pretty much the same.

I'm pretty sure the 1st class coaches have exactly as much space for luggage as the 2nd class coaches. The difference is that since 1st class has fewer seats the luggage space is shared between less people.

The amount of your luggage is pretty normal. I wouldn't go 1st class ONLY because of more space for luggage, but than if you can afford to travel 1st class, why not?

We always try to book seats where we can keep an eye on the luggage storage. I usually can fit my suitcase above the seat though. Only time I have sat on my luggage was the train to the airport from Rome. There were no seats. Regional trains are a bit different than the high speed trains.

The only ticket that I know limits luggage is the lowest class Italo seat. But even that should be big enough for you if your checked bag is reasonable.

Remember you'll need to haul those bags around town,around the station up and down steps and finally onto and off the train. You have a strong incentive to minimize bag size.

Which trains?

On the highspeed trains. Carry on above you in the overhead. Larger bag in the luggage area.

This is not specific to Italy, but if your "one piece of shared luggage" is big, maybe take two smaller ones instead? Two 19-21" rollers might be easier to manage than one huge suitcase imo.

The amount of luggage space varies by train, but the amount you plan to bring doesn't seem excessive, unless that checked bag is very large.

As someone said, the only difference between 1st and 2nd class, with respect to luggage, is that 1st class has, usually, 1/3 fewer seats. However, 2nd class isn't usually full, and a fair number of people are travelling with little or no luggage, so it's not usually a problem.

The high-speed Frecciarossa trains, and the Italo trains, have more than two classe. The Frecciarossa has Standard, Premium, Business, and Executive, for example. Standard and Premium are identical except for the upholstery; not many people are willing to pay extra for fake leather seats, so there are usually more empty seats there. Executive is great, with reclining seats, leg rests, and fewer seats even than Business, but very expensive.

I live in Italy, and travel frequently by train. I almost always travel 2nd class because I don't consider 1st class worth the extra money. Sometimes there's a bargain fare in 1st (or business) and then I might take it. You can get cheaper fare with advance purchases, but then you lose flexibility.

Italo baggage rules

For Italo that's not true. Smart has a size limit. It's generous enough that it should be big enough for most people but there is one. I admit most people ignore it.

75x53x30cm that's almost 120litres if I haven't messed up the calculation.

The Frecce's do have "more space" depending upon which "class" you use: Executive has the MOST space for luggage and only a few seats, all of which are window seats. If you get a ticket far enough ahead it can be relatively reasonable to purchase those seats. There is sometimes room in other sections between pairs of seats as well as at the end of the cars; there are sometimes additional floor-mounted luggage racks mid-carriage in First on some routes. As to "rudeness" the worst issue we have ever faced was when somebody else was occupying your reserved seat (yes, it DOES happen) and they start yelling at you in Italian hoping you'll back off. Enjoy your ride.

I've never seen a Frecciarossa train that didn't have a luggage rack for large bags, either near one of the exits or in the center of the car. That sounds more like a regional train.

My friends were on the train going from Liverpool to Edi and someone was sitting in their reserved seats and would not move so they had to stand till those people got off. No seats available. We were on the high speed train to Germany from Paris and those sitting up top could not get their huge bags up the stairs. Thankful for 20-inch bags. Rethink that big shared bag.

"Relatively reasonable" means almost four times the cost of Standard class. For example, on the Bologna to Milan route, the very cheapest tickets possible (Super Economy) are €81.90. The Super Economy tickets for Standard class are €22.90. The Super Economy tickets for Standard class tend to sell out quickly, so you would have a better chance of getting bargain fares in Executive class. That's because not many people are willing to pay those prices for a fairly short trip. Still, the most expensive Standard tickets (Base fare) are only 60% of the cost of the cheapest possible Executive tickets.

Are you really sure it was a Frecciarossa train?

A Frecciarossa train has a luggage rack, not a "space to leave your luggage". Here's an image:

https://images.app.goo.gl/mXAUVBR4sXL58ZCQ8

I thought it was. Firenze to Venezia Santa Lucia, with no changes, in 3 hours. There was a display which showed 177 km/h.

Frecciarossa trains go from Venice to Florence in 2 hours and 10 minutes and run at max 250 in the tunnels between Bologna and Florence. You probably used an old Frecciabianca.

A train can have only reserved seats, but when people get on the wrong car it's obvious they must walk along the aisles to reach their assigned car. First class travellers are notorious for thinking that their cars must be the first ones and for getting on without checking.
There is nothing wrong, if one gets off at the next stop and stumbles upon an empty seat, in staying there avoiding a long walk with luggage in tow.

My email confirmation definitely says Freciarossa.

And I was mistaken about the time, it was 2 hours 5 minutes, from 11:30 to 13:35, though actually the train was about 10 minutes late.