Hello from Rome! I’m just kicking off my quick detour to Africa, and flew ITA Airways’ Airbus A320neo business class on the 1hr35min flight from Paris (CDG) to Rome (FCO). I’m a huge fan of ITA Airways in general, and have greatly enjoyed the Airbus A330-900neo and Airbus A350-900 business class experience.
So, how does the carrier’s short haul product compare, on flights between Italy and neighboring countries? Well, not very favorably, I must say. And it also seems like there’s quite a bit of variance, even within the carrier’s A320neo fleet. Even so, I can’t help but enjoy flying with ITA, as I find the staff to consistently be more engaging and charming than counterparts at other European carriers.
While I’ll have a full trip report soon, I wanted to share some initial thoughts on the experience…
In this post:
ITA Airways’ A320neo business class cabin is super basic
Intra-Europe business class is rarely anything to get excited about, as the hard product is just economy with a blocked middle seat. This was no exception, though given that I was on a less than two-year-old A320neo, the cabin was at least modern, with pretty mood lighting, and large overhead bins (though that mood lighting sure makes taking pictures complicated).
Legroom wasn’t great, not that I was expecting it to be.
The tray tables were even smaller than usual.
But here’s what surprised me most — despite this being a pretty new jet, there were no power outlets onboard, and no Wi-Fi. Based on some of the other reviews I’ve read of the product, it seems other A320neos do have those amenities, so I guess the fleet is split.
It’s amazing how common this kind of inconsistency has become, even on new aircraft. I’m not sure if it’s due to supply chain issues with seat suppliers, or that the plane was initially intended for another airline. But it’s so strange how frequently airlines no longer even have consistency among new jets.
For example, I recently flew GOL’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 premium economy, only to not find the cabin I was expecting. That’s because GOL had picked up the jet from Donghai Airlines, and maintained the interior. So anyway, it seems there’s another version of ITA’s A320neos that are a bit snazzier, both in terms of cabin finishes and amenities.
ITA Airways’ business class catering wasn’t great
Italy is known for amazing food and drinks, and the airline has among the best business class catering in the world on long haul flights. However, on short haul flights it’s a different story, and it’s a complaint I’ve heard from others as well.
On this very early morning flight, breakfast consisted of a croissant, some sort of a little ham roll, a side of okay fruit, and a little packaged fruit smoothie. It wasn’t terrible, but I’d say it was somewhat subpar compared to what most other European airlines serve within Europe.
Flight attendants went above and beyond to be hospitable
ITA Airways has some really phenomenal, engaging employees, and this flight was no exception. The cabin manager came around to each business class passenger during boarding to introduce himself, and asked about everyone’s travels, encouraging us to let him know if we need anything.
Beyond that, ITA Airways offers pre-departure beverages in business class on short haul flights. Which other European airlines gives you a choice of pre-departure drinks on short haul flights within Europe? I can’t think of any (excluding Russian carriers and Turkish Airlines).
We had a bit of an air traffic control delay on departure, so the cabin manager came through the cabin to ask each business class passenger if he could get them something else to drink, including coffee. That’s just basic hospitality, but it’s such a nice touch you won’t find on so many other airlines.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve had long ground holds on carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa, only for the crew to stand in the galley chatting, and not offer passengers anything.
There’s just something to be said about flying with friendly people, and I’ve found that it’s an area where ITA is way above average.
Bottom line
ITA Airways’ short haul A320neo business class wasn’t quite as good as I was expecting. While the cabin was modern in terms of mood lighting and bins, there were no power outlets or Wi-Fi. The meal was also really basic, especially for an airline from a country that prides itself in cuisine.
That being said, the friendly crew left me with a favorable impression, thanks to their kindness and attentiveness, as they made the most of the limited items that they had to work with.
What’s your take on ITA Airways’ A320neo business class?
All I can say is that you struck it lucky to be so royally catered for breakfast on a 1hr 35min business flight with ITA.
Having done 3 business flights with them in the last year, the low point was being offered a small paper cup of water (second on request) on one flight, up to a coffee/tea with one of the longlife prepackaged canolli thing you show on another lunch-time flight. Just as...
All I can say is that you struck it lucky to be so royally catered for breakfast on a 1hr 35min business flight with ITA.
Having done 3 business flights with them in the last year, the low point was being offered a small paper cup of water (second on request) on one flight, up to a coffee/tea with one of the longlife prepackaged canolli thing you show on another lunch-time flight. Just as well I got to have some decent food in the FCO lounge preflight.
And what's with the deep purple lighting in your photos?? Was it around Halloween or what? Can't say I experienced that on ITA.
I have pretty much the opposite experience flying ita throughout Europe in business. I find most crew to be lacking, from just the basics to plain rude. On some flights, especially when the cabin is small, the full service is not even provided (eg coffee round, limoncello, etc).
The single one reason I do fly them, sometimes, is if the price is good - or - if they happen to fly their A321 Neo LR...
I have pretty much the opposite experience flying ita throughout Europe in business. I find most crew to be lacking, from just the basics to plain rude. On some flights, especially when the cabin is small, the full service is not even provided (eg coffee round, limoncello, etc).
The single one reason I do fly them, sometimes, is if the price is good - or - if they happen to fly their A321 Neo LR with lie flat seats in businesss. Which can’t be beat on a <3 hrs flight.
By the way, another European carrier - which I am much more impressed by than ITA - that serves a choice of pre departure beverages is Aegean. They always have a choice between water, juice or sparkling wine as their SOP.
Are you listening, Lufthansa?
Crew here is veering away from personal conversations to being pleasantly hospitable
(= providing service) is a feature, not a bug.
Vision for the experience, and…
Staff selection, training, then supervision.
Question: can the tray that blocks off the center seat be lifted or removed to allow someone to sit there? I’m planning to take one of these flights next summer on ITA a d would rather have my young son sit next to me rather than a seat away.
then sit in economy?
Nice to know. ITA certainly is an improvement over Alitalia. So glad that the cabin crew are so great. Perhaps the airline is still working on their single aisle product. The experience is not quite the same when the short haul product does not compare to the long haul product. Thanks for the review! Happy & safe travels always!
Aegean also offers a choice of PDBs in business class.
Are you going to review the goofy cocktails in the ITA FCO lounges? I don't have much else to say about their lounges, but the bar is hilarious and worth the price of admission.
I was very disappointed with ITA J few weeks ago, and especially their lack of care about safety issues but I can't help to wonder about what kind of bias is going on here - "European business is not much to get excited about" cliché followed by being served regular breakfast, and then whining that it's not enough from an author who regularly gets excited about US "first" class which consists of peanuts. Come on :)))
@ Samo -- Sorry, could you tell me where I get "excited" about being served peanuts in domestic first class within the United States? I do prefer first class within the United States to business class within Europe, and that's simply because space is the most valuable commodity on a plane, if you ask me. Even on a short flight, it's nice to be able to stretch your legs, recline your seat, and work on...
@ Samo -- Sorry, could you tell me where I get "excited" about being served peanuts in domestic first class within the United States? I do prefer first class within the United States to business class within Europe, and that's simply because space is the most valuable commodity on a plane, if you ask me. Even on a short flight, it's nice to be able to stretch your legs, recline your seat, and work on your laptop without having to contort your body.
Ultimately I can buy a snack in the terminal for a small amount of money (or bring my own), and replicate the service you'd get in intra-Europe business class. What I can't bring with me is extra space.
But you get more space in EU J. There's an entire seat between you and the next person. Surely that's more valuable and useful than some empty inches between you and the armrest (which you can't really use for anything)? And you get lounge access, fast track that's actually useful and a proper meal on almost every carrier even on very short routes. Sounds much more exciting than having someone seat 3 inches from me,...
But you get more space in EU J. There's an entire seat between you and the next person. Surely that's more valuable and useful than some empty inches between you and the armrest (which you can't really use for anything)? And you get lounge access, fast track that's actually useful and a proper meal on almost every carrier even on very short routes. Sounds much more exciting than having someone seat 3 inches from me, waiting on a bench in the terminal and being served nothing on board (and that's before I get started on the service level provided by US FAs). Sure, if we compare EU J with Asian carriers, it's subpar, but compared to even Delta it's miles ahead.
We get it already. US carriers suck. Should every airline be compared to US ones?
@ Samo -- I hear you, and it's not an apples-to-apples comparison, but many of us have TSA PreCheck and lounge memberships, which provide those same benefits. Sure, ideally those wouldn't be needed.
And I respect your take, but yes, I value a properly comfortable recliner seat more than a blocked middle. I typically can't even open my laptop in intra-Europe business class without tilting the screen down, and sitting really uncomfortably.
The extra width in Euro-biz is nice if you're fat (1.95m, 150kg... I know of what I speak). The extra pitch in domestic F though is worth far more (Euro-biz is typically a 34" pitch at best).
There's not really any soft product that can redeem a hard product that is sufficiently deficient. See also Emirates 777 J.
@Samo
I’m not really sure what you’re talking about with ‘more space’. There’s a joke we have on another forum on whether you can fit a banana between your knees and the seat in front of you. Fine if you’re under 1.75m.
I sit sideways when I need to work on my laptop on the numerous LH, AF & KL flights I take regularly ( bar the front row of the AF A220...
@Samo
I’m not really sure what you’re talking about with ‘more space’. There’s a joke we have on another forum on whether you can fit a banana between your knees and the seat in front of you. Fine if you’re under 1.75m.
I sit sideways when I need to work on my laptop on the numerous LH, AF & KL flights I take regularly ( bar the front row of the AF A220 left side or the bulkhead seats of KLM’s E195-E2).
That breakfast looks dismal. AF (even Hop!) serves a far superior breakfast than that.
So yes, you’re the one who’s actually whining here and Ben is spot on with the comments about Euro J. And no, I’m not an American but German.
Someone is an American hater. Jeez. Id rather have a nice recliner seat than have a blocked middle seat in what is essentially economy. Thats pretty ridiculous. I'll take DL, UA, or even AA domestic business any day of the week before some crappy Intra-Europe flight. You literally can't get any worse...
After living in Italy in the 1980's and going back frequently, I can say that customer service has improved immensely, as well and service in general. Italians when motivated, can be very very good at customer service, my last trip to Europe was Italy and France together, and I can tell you the service in Italy (Rome) now if far superior to France (Paris), more personable, more engaging. A long line at CDG to get...
After living in Italy in the 1980's and going back frequently, I can say that customer service has improved immensely, as well and service in general. Italians when motivated, can be very very good at customer service, my last trip to Europe was Italy and France together, and I can tell you the service in Italy (Rome) now if far superior to France (Paris), more personable, more engaging. A long line at CDG to get RER tickets, with more than half the machines out of order, indifferent staff in France particularly at large companies. Super-efficient trains in Italy at half the price of France. Attitude from waitstaff in Paris, and friendly chat from Italians. Of course you can get great service in France and bad service in Italy, but as a whole, Italy has woken up to the benefits of treating customers well.
Agreed. I just spent two weeks driving all over Puglia and Napoli followed by a few days in Paris. What you describe is spot on.
I've flown ITA and have reason to continue to fly it. Much as you state. But, absolutely fine. No complaints. While LH has bought it, I do wish it would remain in Sky Team. Unlikely but I wish.
Was espresso available either before departure or later on? It would be disheartening if they've done away with it.
I wonder if the flight was round-trip catered out of FCO? You’d think leaving Paris they’d be able to cater a half-decent croissant.
@ Timtamtrak -- It was the first flight of the morning, so I'd assume it was catered in Paris, but maybe not?
It’s a relatively easy cost-cutting measure to round trip cater so I was just curious. Given that the food needed to be temperature controlled it’s quite possible it was catered out of Paris, but it seems sub-par based on other ITA food I’ve seen so it made me wonder.
Dear Ben, The reason why ITA FAs are generally more engaging is that the job market of Italy is less dynamic than that of most third world countries. As such, scoring -and keeping- a job as a FA in Italy especially with a legacy company does not compare with the same elsewhere, as it is still somehow considered prestigious and a source of some pride.
So, somehow despite the general sloppiness of pretty much...
Dear Ben, The reason why ITA FAs are generally more engaging is that the job market of Italy is less dynamic than that of most third world countries. As such, scoring -and keeping- a job as a FA in Italy especially with a legacy company does not compare with the same elsewhere, as it is still somehow considered prestigious and a source of some pride.
So, somehow despite the general sloppiness of pretty much everything Italian today, you can find that they actually take some significant care in what they do (you cant get more uninterested than employees in US carriers, I guess) and they don’t just feel like bus attendants.
@ Lasdiner -- Great insights, and I think you're right!
you call the 8th largest economy in the world (and cradle of the western civilisation) a third world country?! oh dear....
Sadly, YES for way too many aspects of daily life for the locals and of the visiting experience for tourists.
But we can talk elsewhere about this it’s a bit OT
"Intra-Europe business class is rarely anything to get excited about, as the hard product is just economy with a blocked middle seat."
At best, this is misleading. At worst, this isn't true.
Icelandair, Turkish, and Bulgaria Air have real business-class akin to domestic U.S. first-class on flights within Europe.
You should edit the sentence to say "... the hard product is GENERALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS just an economy seat with a blocked middle seat."
"Beyond that,...
"Intra-Europe business class is rarely anything to get excited about, as the hard product is just economy with a blocked middle seat."
At best, this is misleading. At worst, this isn't true.
Icelandair, Turkish, and Bulgaria Air have real business-class akin to domestic U.S. first-class on flights within Europe.
You should edit the sentence to say "... the hard product is GENERALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS just an economy seat with a blocked middle seat."
"Beyond that, ITA Airways offers pre-departure beverages in business class on short haul flights. Which other European airlines gives you a choice of pre-departure drinks on short haul flights within Europe? I can’t think of any (excluding Russian carriers and Turkish Airlines)."
This is not true.
Air France is known to do a pre-departure beverage. I've had it a few times between Heathrow and Paris. Air Baltic always does a pre-departure beverage too.
If you want to ride the semantics train (choo choo!), the use of the word “rarely” accompanying “anything to get excited about“ would necessarily mean that there are exceptjons that are worth getting vaguely excited about.
Almost every single airline in Europe has better business class than what US airlines call first. I really don't get what's going on here. Even the crappy Lufthansa gets you meal on EVERY flight, including the 40 minutes ones but somehow the no lounge & peanuts "first" on there hours flights by US carriers is "more exciting". Okay I guess.
@Samo - I'm Australian, so I have no EU or US skin in the game. But I far prefer US domestic biz class to EU. I've flown EU Biz on BA, Iberia, KLM, Air France, Turkish, Agean, Swiss and Lufthansa. I'll take united American delta JetBlue any day.
The seat is wider. It reclines. It has 38 inch pitch (EU 30) and seat back TV most of the time. It's basically a Premium economy...
@Samo - I'm Australian, so I have no EU or US skin in the game. But I far prefer US domestic biz class to EU. I've flown EU Biz on BA, Iberia, KLM, Air France, Turkish, Agean, Swiss and Lufthansa. I'll take united American delta JetBlue any day.
The seat is wider. It reclines. It has 38 inch pitch (EU 30) and seat back TV most of the time. It's basically a Premium economy seat. And as Ben says I can open my laptop, recline and be comfortable.
Airline food is airline food.
EU biz is a joke.