Hello from Miami! I just spent a bit of time in Europe. On the outbound, I flew LOT Polish Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 business class from Chicago to Warsaw, while on the return I flew ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo business class from Rome to Miami.
Earlier this year I flew ITA Airways’ A350-900 business class from Miami to Rome, and I was even more excited about this flight. While the A350 flight was great, ITA’s A350s were acquired on short notice and initially intended for Hainan Airlines, so the interior was quite generic. Meanwhile the A330-900neo marks a new chapter for ITA, as it’s the first long haul aircraft specifically designed for the new Italian flag carrier.
While I’ll have a full review soon, I wanted to share some initial impressions of the experience. Honestly, in terms of soft product, ITA is a force to be reckoned with across the Atlantic.
In this post:
ITA A330neos have a comfortable, stylish business class
ITA Airways’ A330-900neos have 30 business class seats. These are staggered, customized Vantage XL seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. This is very similar to the product that you’ll find on the A330-900neos of Delta and Virgin Atlantic, except ITA elected not to install doors at these seats.
This staggered configuration is about as good as business class seats get on A330s, though admittedly they’re a bit narrower than you’ll find on wider jets, like the A350 and 787.
The attention to detail with the design and finishes was great, from the blue and gray decor, to the mood lighting, to the excellent tech, including bluetooth audio, USB-A and USB-C charging, and more.
While there are marginally better business class seats out there, I thought this was a good product, and I liked the way that ITA customized the cabin.
ITA’s business class catering is phenomenal
The area where ITA Airways really shines is with its catering. ITA must be one of the top five airlines in the world for food quality. The food was even better than on my last ITA flight, and I already thought it was great last time.
This started when we stepped onboard, with pre-departure drinks of choice. It’s not often you can order a pre-departure espresso in business class!
After takeoff, a delicious lunch was served. To drink, I ordered an aperol spritz, which was accompanied by a tuna mousse and caper puff pastry. Yum.
Next up was the appetizer, for which I selected the citrus lobster salad with yogurt. I had a very nice Sardinian white wine to drink.
Next up was the pasta course, and for this I selected the buckwheat ravioli with fried eggplant, tomatoes, and mozzarella, served with cream and basil drops. I couldn’t believe this was being served on a plane, as it was restaurant quality.
Then there was the choice of beef or fish, and I selected the rock fish “acqua pazza” style, which was also very good.
Lastly there was the choice of dessert, fruit, and/or cheese, and I selected the dessert that consisted of lemon sponge cake, as well as a fruit plate.
Last but not least, I finished off the meal with a limoncello and an excellent cappuccino (a weird combo, I know!).
This is easily one of the tastiest meals I’ve ever had in business class. And the rest of the food was great as well. For example, the pizza served as a mid flight snack was the best attempt at pizza I’ve ever had inflight.
Service on ITA was very friendly
On my last ITA Airways long haul flight I had excellent service, and I wondered if that was luck of the draw, or reflective of service on the airline. Well, I’m happy to report that service on my second long haul ITA flight was even better.
The experienced crew had mostly previously worked at Alitalia, and they couldn’t have been lovelier. They truly seemed to enjoy their jobs, and were very good with customizing the service flow. They were efficient, friendly, and had an eye for detail.
The airline’s service procedures also feel very premium, in terms of food being served directly on a tablecloth on the tray table (rather than on a tray), wine being poured at the seat, coffee being served with a cute little chocolate, etc.
How I booked this flight
While ITA Airways belongs to SkyTeam, it’s not actually possible to redeem most SkyTeam points currencies on ITA. Fortunately Virgin Atlantic Flying Club lets you redeem points on ITA. The one-way business class award from Rome to Miami cost 85,000 Flying Club points, and there were no carrier imposed surcharges.
How did I acquire those points? Well, several weeks back, Bilt’s rent day promotion offered a transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. The amount of the transfer bonus varied based on your Bilt elite status. I was eligible for a 125% transfer bonus, which was enough to make me speculatively transfer some points. So in reality I paid just 38,000 Bilt points per ticket, which I’d say is quite a great value!
Bottom line
I just had the chance to cross the Atlantic on a brand new ITA Airways A330-900neo, and what a lovely flight it was! ITA’s soft product is what impresses most, with exceptional food and friendly service. The A330neo offers a great experience as well, with excellent tech, comfortable seats, and a stylish cabin.
If you have the chance to fly ITA long haul, I can’t recommend it enough!
What do you make of ITA Airways’ A330-900neo business class?
Great review and reassuring. I’m flying J on the 330 Neo next week IAD-FCO.
But I can’t find anything online about any lounge access at IAD.
Anyone know the arrangement, if any? Thanks
Behind the scenes the Italians desecrate AZ but only when among their peers and speaking in dialects.
For whatever reason, I can't do fish in flight unless it's something like skate, sushi, or anchovies. KLM can tell you about that one. I would have stuck with just the apps and ravioli instead and then had a nice dessert with some champagne. Nice review, regardless, though I do wonder how well ITA handles check-in and how comfortable their lounge is.
What is coach like?
I booked a flight in coach with upgraded seats to an exit for my daughter and myself, non-stop Boston to Rome, her first trip to Italy. I received the reservation numbers, the seat assignments, and the reservation code. My charge card was charged. Then they "upgraded" their reservation system and lost my daughter's ticket, three weeks before the flight. I had to argue and call almost every day to get them to find the ticket,...
I booked a flight in coach with upgraded seats to an exit for my daughter and myself, non-stop Boston to Rome, her first trip to Italy. I received the reservation numbers, the seat assignments, and the reservation code. My charge card was charged. Then they "upgraded" their reservation system and lost my daughter's ticket, three weeks before the flight. I had to argue and call almost every day to get them to find the ticket, which they never did. I asked them to cancel the flight and rebook us, for the same price since it was there mistake but because they couldn't find the ticket, they couldn't cancel her flight and they would not refund me since they were non-refundable tickets. Luckily American Express took over and fought to get a refund. I then booked the flight on United, which was a less expensive flight. I don't believe I'll ever chance flying ITA again. I heard Lufthansa was in negotiations to buy ITA, we'll see if that makes a difference...
Both ITA and Iberia are a bear to work with if there's anything wrong. For a while, Iberia had no reservation office in the US and all calls went to Spain, where you had to immediately speak Spanish. So basically, if you wanted to do anything, you had to know the language while calling in the US. I also remember having a lot of difficulties with AZ. In both countries, the airlines really don't make...
Both ITA and Iberia are a bear to work with if there's anything wrong. For a while, Iberia had no reservation office in the US and all calls went to Spain, where you had to immediately speak Spanish. So basically, if you wanted to do anything, you had to know the language while calling in the US. I also remember having a lot of difficulties with AZ. In both countries, the airlines really don't make any extra effort to help unless you're right in front of them. You have to understand that you've bought a ticket from a foreign carrier in those cases and that you are thus at their mercy if you need anything. Terrible feeling when spending so much money.
Well this looks very nice, nothing about this airline screams Italy. It's all very bland, very generic. Alitalia had a real flair, an Italian style from the moment you saw the plane at the gate to the branding on board. It should be noted, Alitalia had top notch catering and friendly in-flight service as well. It also had a much better logo.
The fish looks more like Swordfish than Rockfish to me.
2 pieces of Pasta and you call that a pasta course? While the cabin/seats look nice the food doesn’t look that appealing to me.
Do you understand what a pasta course is in Italy? It is a "primo" meaning more like a small plate. You don't eat a Olive Garden sized portion of pasta for a four course meal in Italy.
To add Italian Americans have no idea about food from Italy, so are shocked when they see real food.
How much pasta would you expect in a single course? Do you realise it's mostly dough? That portion seems absolutely adequate, unless you want to make yourself sick. This is ITA, not United.
Over the past two summers I have been on both new products in business class. The 350 was terrific, but the color choice was poor. The 330/339 neo had great colors but the seat was no where near as comfortable as the 350. In the neo the seat goes flat by lowering to almost ground level, Ltd in seat storage and the try from the side is just ehh. BUT considering the price and what you actually get it's definitely a win and I will definitely fly again
Just flew it today September 11 and horrible, horrible! It ain't no QR Q-suite and very confining with practically no storage space. Food was horrendous ! I made the stupid mistake of buying a round trip from Cairo via Rome so I am booked to return there with AZ in the spring and based on today's experience no way in hell I wish to do that!
Behind the scenes, the Italians desecrate AZ but only when among their peers and speaking in dialects.
Guess this is a case of it tasting much better than it looks. That pizza looks particularly unappetizing.
I think Lucky is probably just not a very good food photographer. It looks like he just quickly took pictures with his phone.
This is most encouraging. I travelled on Alitalia in about the last month of its existence (Premium Economy) and the food was terrible - main course was 4 bits of ravioli in tomato sauce - that was about it. The only liquid available was water - no wine, no juice, no coffee. And the crew looked so miserable I called one across and asked if someone had died. God knows what it was like in economy.
Okay biz class maybe as good as you describe BUT economy is best described as sub standard, and I am being kind. I have just recently flown LAX to Rome/Venice and the return to LAX. The food was just terrible. Breakast on the LAX leg was Planters trail mix, Oreos and a small ham roll, all wrapped in plastic, plus a warm square chocolate filled type of croissant, which was inedible. As was the dinner...
Okay biz class maybe as good as you describe BUT economy is best described as sub standard, and I am being kind. I have just recently flown LAX to Rome/Venice and the return to LAX. The food was just terrible. Breakast on the LAX leg was Planters trail mix, Oreos and a small ham roll, all wrapped in plastic, plus a warm square chocolate filled type of croissant, which was inedible. As was the dinner on the return flight. At least the breakfast came in a paper bag, but again was not acceptanle. The plane on the first leg was sadly in need of repair, the arm of my seat was broken. I could go on, but along with having to pay an extra $123 for my seat, it is suffice to say I would never fly ITA again.
Geoff P
Well, that’s what you get flying economy on an international flight. I’d never subject myself to economy for a long haul flight. You are complaining about an extra $123, after all.
Flying Milan - NY repeatedly in the last year in both coach and premium economy I am amazed by the review and am wondering if this is the same airline.
There are old planes based in Milan, held together on the inside by duct tape with catering that in was bad to inedible (it was actually not possible to bite into the roll served as it was old/stale).
I hope ITA can bring...
Flying Milan - NY repeatedly in the last year in both coach and premium economy I am amazed by the review and am wondering if this is the same airline.
There are old planes based in Milan, held together on the inside by duct tape with catering that in was bad to inedible (it was actually not possible to bite into the roll served as it was old/stale).
I hope ITA can bring the described experience to all routes and service classes - in the meantime a warning should be given that this does not seem to be a consistent experience
Unfortunately the MXP-JFK route is being operated by old A330-200s. These are being phased out, and not a moment too soon....
Company producing Aperol, Campari expanded operations in Russia, supporting unlawful and terrorist activity of Russia in Ukraine. You should reconsider your drink choices.
I did not know that! Thanks for sharing, will try and find alternatives,
I flew coach on the 330-neo from JFK-FCO last week. It was the least comfortable seat I'd ever flown in. It seemed like it was created to defy the existence of ergonomic design. Really a bummer. I love flying international airlines but this seat was so uncomfortable I'd avoid this seat in the future
For how long will ITA Airways (AZ) be around?
I hope till next June since we just booked RT JFK-FCO
ITA is just Alitalia reheated, a company that last turned a profit nearly 25 years ago. It is a shame of a political racket.
Recently flew the 339 on ITA and agree, the premium cabin product is really quite good, and the food is top notch (as it was on Alitalia). The A350s have a good product, but it is bland and the use of white materials has helped to give the cabins plenty of wear and tear. AZ is a hopeless company with no future other than in the arms of Lufthansa, who will standardize it to the...
Recently flew the 339 on ITA and agree, the premium cabin product is really quite good, and the food is top notch (as it was on Alitalia). The A350s have a good product, but it is bland and the use of white materials has helped to give the cabins plenty of wear and tear. AZ is a hopeless company with no future other than in the arms of Lufthansa, who will standardize it to the LH product, reduce the catering budget, and further cut the staff levels at AZ corporate, which remains bloated.
Shoeguy, you misunderstand Italian cuisine! The essence is simplicity, with not very expensive ingredients (usually seasonal) of high quality, and cooked properly. Delicious!
If you look at each plate pictured, you can see that.
Of course Americans would think them small, but Europeans generally prefer quality over quantity any day.
Italians do know their coffee and pasta well. I wish more airlines would put more effort in their plating and presentation and not just put everything in a casserole.
I guess you had to be there. In pictures it looks revolting!
LOL! Thank you.
The food in the pictures looks absolutely delicious to me!
He was paid to write this article...
You're right. I've had way better food in Italy than this.