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.
Continue reading: ITA Airways’ A330neo Business Class: Amazing Food, Great Service
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
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.
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.
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
Company producing Aperol, Campari expanded operations in Russia, supporting unlawful and terrorist activity of Russia in Ukraine. You should reconsider your drink choices.
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
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
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.
Guess this is a case of it tasting much better than it looks. That pizza looks particularly unappetizing.
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!
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
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.
ITA is just Alitalia reheated, a company that last turned a profit nearly 25 years ago. It is a shame of a political racket.
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.
I think Lucky is probably just not a very good food photographer. It looks like he just quickly took pictures with his phone.
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.
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...
To add Italian Americans have no idea about food from Italy, so are shocked when they see real food.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Unfortunately the MXP-JFK route is being operated by old A330-200s. These are being phased out, and not a moment too soon....
Behind the scenes, the Italians desecrate AZ but only when among their peers and speaking in dialects.
Behind the scenes the Italians desecrate AZ but only when among their peers and speaking in dialects.
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
Just returned from a FRA-FCO-GRU round trip in J on ITA and had a very different experience.
Ground staff both of ITA and handling agents were not helpful, no free seat selection (even though that was included in my fare), and probably the worst food I’ve had in the sky. Didn’t finish some of the courses because of their taste (and saw others also leaving their plates almost full).
Inflight service was friendly and efficient, but not super attentive on some legs.
Seat on the A350 was great but felt cramped and lacked storage on the A330.
Two years too late but what the hell, I’ll just put this here. @glenn t, I think you misread shoeguy’s comment. He was saying that the cabin decor was bland, not the food.