I am trying to buy an air ticket for one of the only nonstop 75-minute flights from Naples to Verona in late May. This is on Meridiana Airways (flight operated by Air Italy). The schedule is excellent for me, the fare inexpensive. I had never heard of this airline before. I have been having all kinds of problems actually completing the final step of the purchase on the Meridiana web site, having already been on the phone to their customer service number in NYC three times, and to my bank/credit card company three times as well. The problem is clearly with the airline's online processing and NOT with my credit card. I have actually tried this with two different very good credit cards. Now I have looked up reviews for Meridiana, most of which seem to be two or three years old, and many of them are absolutely scathing. I have never seen such a string of negative comments, for any company. Do any of you have personal experience with Meridiana or Air Italy? I am starting to think that I am lucky my purchase has not gone through. However, my only alternatives seem to be a quite expensive Alitalia ticket (3 times the cost) which is not nonstop, thus much longer and more hassle, or spending the whole day on trains (I will actually be starting that morning in Sorrento.) Thanks for any guidance!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15198 posts
I've flown on Meridiana several times from/to Florence to various Mediterranean destinations (Sardinia, Barcelona, Sicily) when Meridiana operated a base at FLR (now they fly from FLR to OLB only) but that was a few years back (last time in 2009). They merged with Air Italy only recently and I have no recent experience since the merger, but when I flew with Meridiana I had no complaints, actually it was better than many.
I don't bother with online reviews of airlines regardless. Most people who write a review on the internet generally do so only when they had a negative experience. The 99.9% of travelers who have no problems when they fly don't bother to write a review.
Just go for it, if it's so cheap that it costs 1/3 of their competitors and is the only non stop. I wouldn't count on Alitalia being three times as good.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15589 posts
Hi Larry,
I had a lot of doubts too. I couldn't find anything negative to discourage me (discounting reviews that are out of date), so I have booked a flight for this coming April (Catania to Bologna). Like you, I had the choice of inconvenient times, super-expensive Air Italia or Meridiana. I am going with Meridiana. I had no trouble buying the ticket online, though.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4049 posts
I flew Naples to Sicily return last summer. One plane was still the Meridiana brand, the other Air Italy. Both qualified as genuinely no-frills and, in a few interior details, low-maintenance. The check-in was routine, the bags arrived with the plane, and the flight was short. You get what you pay for, especially if you think commuter rather than grand airliner.
Posted by
OP
Carmel, CA, USA
2455 posts
Thanks to you three for your input. I thought I would report back. Initially I had Southam's view -- cheap fare, good schedule, short flight, no frills. While concerned about the challenging carry-on limit, I figured I'd check my carry-on bag, and as long as my stuff and I got on the plane and landed together somewhere close to on time, I could put up with anything else for 75 minutes. Then, after 7 attempts to buy a ticket, over several hours, 3 phone calls to my bank, 3 phone calls to Meridiana, where I was finally told I could call back the next day to either NY or Italy, to pay an extra fee in order to buy the ticket over the phone, and many negative customer comments on everything from lost reservations, to lost bags, to rude staff on the plane or the phone, to canceled flights, or closed up bathrooms, etc., I gave up my struggle to become a Meridiana customer. Two fellows on the Chase VISA desk told me they could see on their monitor that my purchase had been submitted to "verify by VISA" and approved 7 times, but then Meridiana never took the next step to put the purchase through to my card, 2 cards actually. So I took a fresh look at Trenitalia and purchased a Naples-Bologna-Verona ticket, including a Super Economy Business Class very fast ticket from Naples to Bologna, for the same 48 euros. With about 40 minutes connection time in Bologna maybe I can even step out for a look at that new city (new to me), and even a typical snack, maybe a bologna sandwich. I will leave somewhat earlier, arrive Verona at the same time, right in town, relax along the way, and have no worries about whether my baggage is bigger than 8 inches thick. You can bet I'm checking my VISA cards on line, to be sure I'm never charged for any of those 7 ticket purchase attempts. Chani, I sure hope your experience with Meridiana in April is like Southam's -- no frills and no problems. Please do report back afterward, if you remember.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15198 posts
Actually, considering the trip you intend to take, now that I think about it, I should have suggested the train from the start.
The plane is a better option if you have to travel to the islands (Sardinia/Sicily) and I've taken the plane within Italy only in those circumstances. But for a trip within the mainland, like from Naples to Verona, nowadays the train is always a better option regardless of which airline you use.
Besides the superior comfort compared to the cramped airplane seats, a train can get you from NA city center to VR city center in just less than 4.5 hours. The plane would not get you there any faster, once you consider the airport-city center transfers, check-in, security etc. The cost could be higher too if you take a taxi to/from the airport.
So you made the right choice.