Questions and Answers

Hey Guys,

I was recently searching for flights from Geneva to Rome for four people and Alitalia popped up as a very cheap option. They seem to be selling one way flights for 1$ base fare, the Swiss airport taxes alone are 5$! How desperate are they to fill planes? Because on other flights I’ve searched they’ve been absurdly expensive!

They are in the process of filing for bankruptcy so I don’t know that I’d buy a ticket with them right now. Lucky’s had a couple of posts about this:

[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/05/02/alitalia-bankruptcy/[/URL]

[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/05/02/what-happens-to-your-ticket-if-alitalia-goes-out-of-business/[/URL]

I read this week in the Italian paper that there are 32 offers to buy the airline with some time remaining for offers. The bankruptcy is being managed by a special commissioner. Not sure when you’re flying but I’d take those flights if they are in the next few months – they’re very cheap (not much financial risk) and nothing is going to happen very quickly with the sale and/or liquidation.

Strongly doubt the Italian government will let the airline fail until after the summer tourist season is over, too much chance of huge loses of tourist income.

But if you are traveling after late October things might be different.

While I would be hesitant to book a long haul flight on Alitalia if I had an important meeting/event that I simply could not miss due to the high risk of strike action if the Unions don’t like the way any restructuring deal ends up, on a short flight like this I would be less concerned.

Both Vueling and Easyjet fly this route direct, and you have lots of 1 stop options if you insist on flying. Optionally it just over 7 hours by train and 8,5 hours by car.

See this site for all you ever wanted to know about taking international trains from Switzerland
[URL]https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Switzerland.htm[/URL]