Based on the following it looks like there is no way to save this once great company.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Precisely when, and for how many milliseconds, could this strike-ridden, subsidy-sucking, job creation racket for politicians' cronies ever have been described as a "great company"?

We learned our lesson after only one trans-Atlantic flight with Alitalia. The flight attendants, snarling, served us lousy food and then disappeared for the rest of the journey. Our luggage turned up two days later after our arrival in Milan, having been misdirected to Rome. We had to pick it up at the airport, Alitalia refusing to be bothered with "just two suitcases," they said. Arrividerci, Alitalia.

Flann, Well, when sitting in the now extinct First Class, sipping Proseco, while preusing the Primi selections in between bites of a fine Prosciutto San Danielle con melone. Great selection of wines with the secondo as well, not counting Grappa, cognac, etc. etc. At one time this was a true "premium service" carrier. Oh, I will miss the onboard espresso/cappucino machines too. Real espresso, not the concentrate crap now pawned off by other airlines in Business Class.

Well, the last time I flew with them (last year) it was a bit of a disaster. But before that I'd flown with them umpteen times with no problems - which is good enough for me, when it comes to airlines.

All the Alitalia Unions should strike on the last day.

That'll teach Alitalia and the gov't a lesson and show them who is really in charge of this airline!
Regards, Walter

I agree with USNR--worst flight we have ever taken, with the worst, snarling attendants on the planet.

Good riddance!

I read that the unions voted against the last buyout offer because it would eliminate 3000 jobs. I last flew Alitalia in 2004 because of a super cheap offer. However, the last two days of my trip were a disaster, because several of the Alitalia unions kept threatening to strike, off, then on again. Of course, Alitalia just stopped answering their phones. I finally showed up at Malpensa and at some point, my flight took off. Never again, I decided, at any price.

I agree, the unions held sway over the company in the last 6 to 8 years; thus ruining the service, performance, etc. But, the Alitalia prior to that downslide was superb...Oh, well....things change!!

On the few flights to Italy I have taken it was the usual in steerage class.
However, last trip upon arriving @ Venice airport, found they were on strike.
Mentioned we handled their website stateside @ their desk. Was given a pass to the lounge & other paperwork to take to Delta.
Placed on Air France business class to Paris & Continental business class back to Newark.
Thanks Alitalia; first time a strike put me in a higher category than purchased & very comfortable flight home!

We just flew them on Sunday and are so glad to hear that this might be the end of this crappy airline. This was the worst flight we have ever been on, with the rudest attendants and some of the rudest, inconsiderate passengers, all Italians. I have never encountered such rudeness as I have in Italy and on Alitalia. Good riddence.

NJR,

Whenever a company is so close to closing in the travel industry, people will have that attitude. The anxiety those people have just flows out and customer care is secondary or even non existent. Its understandable but sad. They used to be a good airline.

As early as 1980, I remember this joke:

"Why does the Pope (John Paul II) kiss the ground when he visits a country? - Because he flies Alitalia."

Some five years ago, I flew Alitalia a lot because I had business in Rome and often there was no other choice. They flew Super 80ies and the aircrafts looked like pieces from a museum. The instruments in the cockpits were well-worn and once my seat was broken.

Yes, kissing the ground after landing would have been an appriopriate behaviour.

I flew Alitalia for the first time just last month (Cairo to Rome and Rome to Madrid). I was thrilled they didn't ground the planes before I got there. The flights themselves were completely uneventful (although why they tapped me on the knee while I was sleeping, not once but twice, first to ask if I wanted and drink, and then to ask if I wanted a meal, is beyond me), but boy, were those cabins in need of re-decorating!! Guess that's out of the question now, unless some other airline buys their planes.

I recently booked a trip using FF miles on CO to Turkey in Dec. They tried to give me flights using CO/Alitalia. But after all I've read on this board about Alitalia, I told them NO WAY, give me any other airline, so I'm booked on CO/AF. I don't think I would have known of Alitalia's troubles if not for this board, so I sincerely thank you all.

I flew Alitalia many times when I lived in Europe and most recently last February. I always thought they were a reasonably pleasant airline, and never lost my luggage.

This is good news for travellers and their debtors.

Back in the 70's and most of the 80's Alitalia was a wonderful airline. You felt like you were in Italy when you boarded the plane. But nothing remains the same sadly. It is rather like a once wonderful city that goes downhill over the years.

<i>This is good news for travellers and their debtors</i>

What does &quot;this&quot; refer to?

Back in the 70's and most of the 80's you did indeed realise you were in Italy the instant when you boarded the plane.

Linate was forever fogbound, if the staff weren't on strike they were obnoxious but the likelihood was the flight would be cancelled anyway.

The only differences between the corrupt, union-dominated, mismanaged Alitalia of the 1970s and the company today are:

1. Europe's awash with unregulated competitors who do a proper job for half what it costs Alitalia to pay all those plonkers sitting around doing nothing
2. We don't let its government waste its taxpayers' (because ultimately it'd be our) money on propping this relic of decades-long mismanagement up.
3. The planes. Oops. They're the same planes as 30 years ago. Uncompetitively fuel-guzzling because money that ought to have gone into more efficient planes has been squandered on fat pensions, asnd excessive pay for a bloated work force.