Have you flown on Alitalia and would you recommend it? We've flown on BA and SWISS (like both very much), but they make stops in London & Zurich. Alitalia goes non-stop from Boston, but we've heard some unfavorable views regarding Alitalia.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I have no direct experience with Alitlia other than a flight last fall from Athens to Rome. It matched any other US flight. But Alitalia has been in financial trouble for a long time, probably bankrupt now, rumors of being sold or folded. etc. But keeps on flying. I would assume that the inflight service would be marginal but I am sure they will land safely. If I had another choice I might take it but a direct flight has great advantage and would offset poor service for me.
Posted by
boston, ma, usa
160 posts
Hi Karen,
I have also heard of poor service from Alitlia (my parents) though we have not flown it personally. We are flying to Rome from Logan in July and found USAir had the best or comparable fares ( a little over $1000 R/T) but also had the best and most frequent flight schedule. We are have a layover in Philadelphia.
Posted by
Rome
212 posts
I fly this route at least once a year, for nearly 15 years now...I have done both the Alitalia direct flight as well as several of the other airlines.
Truth be told, even though BA takes about 3 extra hours, I prefer to fly on British.
A direct flight is convenient, and AZ is the only one who offers it. The cons are that their planes are often old, they strike every other week, the in flight service is lacking, and as the previous poster mentioned, they could go under any day.
That said, I just booked my mom tix on AZ from Boston in June...crossing fingers!
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
I too have heard the bad things about Alitalia and personally wouldn't fly them, because of their numerous strikes, lost luggage complaints, and surly customer service complaints, not to mention they always seem to be teetering on bankruptcy. Travel insurance companies won't cover their flights as a result. British Airways is having financial and labor problems now as well. I would prefer not to have to stop in Britain as their airports are a nightmare. I usually fly American from Dallas through Chicago. Have you checked into KLM or Lufthansa? My neighbor here in Dallas lives full-time in Italy and she and her husband fly back and forth (leisure & business) all the time and have recommended KLM and Lufthansa. The trouble with using a European Airline is that their departure and arrival times are geared more for the European traveller.