Alitalia To Install New Business Class Seats And Wifi

Maybe this will mean real champagne instead of prosecco I could buy at Trader Joe's for $8.99?

I would say the only way to even hope to be a five-star airline is to offer a first class product, which they will not be doing. At least right now, for the better European carriers, we have Swissair, Thai Air and Lufthansa, and they don't compare to the Asian and Middle East carriers. Am I missing anybody?

@Craig

how is Thai Air "better European carrier"? for the sake of this country i hope you were not a geography major.

i agree Alitalia's catering and seats in Magnifica (business class) is already competitive. the game changer would be to change its reputation as an airline that's always late/delayed.

Lucky, so you don't think Lufthansa is a five star airline? Sounds blasphemous! Hahaha!

Craig, I assume your favorite American carrier is Singapore Airlines?

I wouldn't be surprised Ben if Etihad buys a stake in Air France-KLM in the near future. Given the struggles the company is in, which they are in for many years now...

In my opinion,the only airline that will have a 5-star rating in Europe is Lufthansa. It's the only airline with a (already) 5 star First Class, their Business Class hardware is beeing upgraded and their new signature service will make a significant difference in the onboard service product. I think their new intra European catering is among the best in the region (better than Swiss but maybe not as good as Turkish). Their new Premium Economy is among the best in class and the Economy Class is also among the best products. I've used Alitalia only in Economy Rome to Buenos Aires in 2014 and it was terrible. The staff, the food, the dirty plane. An Lucky: Alilatia is only a 3 star Airline, Business may be 4 star, but without First Class and significant changes in staff attitued and reliability no way for 5 star in the next 10 years...

Alitalia is a fantastic SkyTeam redemption; Food really is terrific, and the wine is out of this world good. Loved my flight to Rome from JFK; just skip their partner club, and go to the Air France lounge at JFK instead.

Color me shocked. I wrote Alitalia's obituary several times in the not so distant past.

@Jim: In fairness, only Air France is struggling. The KLM component is doing just fine. I think you're more likely to see the Dutch government force a de-merger than allow a virtual takeover by Etihad.

Rome Airport??? Never heard of it. Did it replace Fiumicino and Ciampino?

God Fiumicino sucks, litterally the definition of a clusterfuck.

The etihad alliance is annoying me because I want Virgin Aus to join the Star Alliance, they already partner with SQ and NZ and now SA. So frustrating.

I flew Air Serbia about a year ago and they were amazing! They had 2 delicious choices of meals in economy for a 2 hour flight!

Can't stop think about a scene from "Mean Girls":

- Alitalia is so fetch!
- Etihad, stop trying to make Alitalia happen, is not going to happen!

Being fair, don't think Alitalia is too bad nowdays, they had worst days already, but I'm really curious to see the next chapter of the Etihadation of an Europen carrier.

Have an upcoming flight on Alitalia from Casablanca to Rome in their short haul business class. What should I expect in terms of catering, service etc.?

I think only Lufthansa has a 5 Star potential in Europe - at the moment. They have a first class already 5 star rated, Alitalia hasn't even a first class. Massive improvements are being made and its their pronounced goal to be the first 5 star airline in Europe. Swiss has also potential and maybe even Air France. The first goal for AZ should be to get a 4 star rating - the only have 3 stars. and please change the attitudes of most of their employees, work on reliability and improve economy class on long hauls dramatically!

+1 on with Virgin Australia would join *A

*wish

"Alitalia will also add routes from Bologna and Catania in Italy to Abu Dhabi, from where passengers can connect on Etihad flights to Africa, India and Australia."

Seriously, Bologna and Catania? How many passengers in Bologna and Catania are on their way to India?

And I'm with Wayne, have you changed your tune about LH FC?

I've taken a few flight on Alitalia in the past inter Europe via their Magnifica or business class. The flights were out of FCO and VCE. Each flight had very good service, seats were spacious and food/wine were incredible. I was also surprised that the flights were either on time or had early arrivals. I was always anticipating the worst, but was really pleasantly surprised by my experiences.

@ Robert Hanson -- I assume it'll be an A320, so I doubt they'll have issues filling it. While I think Lufthansa first class is a five star product, I don't think their economy or business class cabins are.

@ Tar_00 -- Expect great catering, economy seats with a blocked middle seat, indifferent service, and don't count on punctuality.

I do often Alitalia in short and medium haul flights and the service is just terrible. No enforcing of priority lines at boarding, always transfer by bus at fiumicino, indifferent and rude staff, crackers as food, no booze and very limited drinks selection, dirty airplanes, etc... AF, LH, even Air Berlin much better. They have a big learning curve to improve.

I hate Alitalia, especially that elderly steward that was rude to the point of yelling at us to fasten the seatbelts properly. Dear blond and slightly obese elderly stupid man: if you don't like your job, quit it.
Has anyone else met that rude, grumpy monster of a steward at the Buenos Aires-Rome connection?