Would you fly Alitalia Chicago to Rome?

Hi, Barb. I haven't taken Alitalia from the USA to Rome, but I did use them to travel from Athens to Sicily via Rome last March. I thought the service was fine and the airplanes seemed nice as well. If it were my decision I wouldn't think twice about booking with them. Have a great trip!

As I recall Alitalia went through bankruptcy in 08 or 09 and has since become a private company (it was state owned and we all know how well that usually works out). I've read several good things about Alitalia in the past year in various media forums including a couple of financial papers. They are trying to rebuild their brand after years of dreadful service. That said, I've never flown them.

For most of this past winter/early spring, the Alitalia nonstop flights to/from LAX have been very punctual, and sometimes have even arrived early. Last Wednesday's flight arrived 40 minutes early at FCO from LAX. I believe that Alitalia will be using the brand new Airbus 340-200 on its flights to ORD, with three classes of service (Business, Premium Economy and Economy), although I might be mistaken. Alitalia has been flying to ORD since 1962 (with a seven-year hiatus from 1974 to 1981). Nonstop flights have been offered since the mid-1960s.

Thanks for the boost of confidence, guys! I was struggling to decide if the fares were so low because they are really bad or because they are rebuilding the brand. I'm going to give it a try (and I'll report back with results!) By the way, I found on the Alitalia website that if you haven't registered for their online newsletter, you can register and get 10% off any ticket purchased online from them until the end of April for travel from the US now until June 15. :)

For that kind of savings I would probably do it. After all, they cannot be an worse than US Air.

I dunno Frank....at least US Air can get your luggage to you....even when they loose it.........but that is not the case with Alitalia

Have never flown Alitalia from US. However, we did fly Alitalia from Rome to Naples. Pleasant experience. On-time. I was very worried about luggage allowance, as I like to carry on. Did not have to check my luggage - was a little above their limits, but no one checked.

I'd put a TSA lock on any suitcase you are checking. We flew Air France a few years ago, but had to change planes in Paris. Our suitcases did not make our transfer with us. When they arrived the next day, it turns out they went from Paris to Rome on Alitalia. My suitcase had been opened and some things were missing, including a waterproof jacket. So I would recommend TSA locks. I'd also recommend putting a luggage tag on your suitcases with your first destination and phone number of where you will be first staying in Italy. (besides you home address).

We flew Alitalia Boston To Rome back in 2008 and had heard all the nightmare stories. We had no problems at all, we actually were early on arrival, made a smooth transfer to Venice and collected our bags in record time. We are again flying Alitalia Boston to Naples via Rome next month and hope to have a similar experience. Enjoy your trip!

Barb, don't think twice. Book Alitalia. Especially if you can save $800 AND have a direct flight! We have flown Alitalia from Boston and/or New York to Rome 4 times in the last 6 years and have never had any more difficulties than we experience on any of our domestic flights here in the US. I daresay you can get some bad reviews about any reputable airline, including Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, USAir, Delta...just ask me.

To save $800 I too would not hesitate to fly Alitalia. In Sept. 2010 my husband and I decided on a last minute trip to Italy (booked only 2 weeks in advance, $1,200/tkt) flew Delta from Mpls to JFK and then boarded an Alitalia flight (partner airline with Delta too for f.f. miles) to Rome and then on to Bololgna. The boarding of the flight at JFK was a little unorganized and we were about an hr. late taking off but still were able to arrive in Rome on schedule and made our connecting flight on to Bologna. We did carry on our luggage though. On many previous flights to Europe we had always flown N.W./Delta airlines and always had personal inflight entertainment systems which we love. I wasn't sure the Alitalia flight would have this but it did. Flew partner airline Air France on the long leg home (Bologna/Paris/Newark/Mpls) and had a fine experience with them too. Otherwise had only flown Air France for short legs in Europe. We are flying Lott Polish Air this summer to Poland which I know nothing about so we will see how this goes! Unfortunately they are not a partner airline with Delta so no ff miles but the Delta prices were absolutely ridiculous!

Hi Barb, We also booked Alitalia for our June flight (returning from Rome to Chicago) because of the direct-flight and great price. The reviews seemed mostly dated, so we're hoping that thing have changed for the better. In the end, like you, we decided we would rather use the money saved during our time in Italy (possibly on lots of gelato!). I think it's a good choice.

I flew Alitalia last year direct from Toronto to Rome with absolutely no problems. My main concern with finding flights is price, but flying direct comes a very close second...so I'd take this flight no questions asked!

We just got back from Italy a week ago and took Alitalia from Boston to Rome. We had no problems at all, in fact everything went quite smoothly which is more than I can say about our return flight with airfrance.

"at least US Air can get your luggage to you....even when they loose it.........but that is not the case with Alitalia" Our experience with Alitalia was just the opposite. Two of our bags were misdirected on a flight to Rome. Alitalia located them that night and delivered them the next morning to our hotel in Sorrento - a four-hour drive from Rome. We wouldn't hesitate to fly with them again.

Direct. $800. YES!!! BUT...IF you're checking bags, put a large sheet of paper with your name, airline and flight number/date or travel, itinerary and ways you can be contacted (email, phone, hotel phone). Alitalia doesn't have the best reputation for returning lost luggage; there isn't/wasn't a USA phone number, and other forms of communication were black holes...IF you actually spoke with someone they (a) didn't have a clue where you bag was, or (b) they knew exactly where it was, and it'd be at your house the very next day...(crickets chirping) Carry-on if at all possible. At least take some clothing on board, and anything else that would ruin your trip if you didn't have it. Fly direct (helps with the 'lost' luggage), AND save $800. (hope that $800 savings is still around - act fast!)

To everyone, you are a fantastic group! Fortified by your comments, I bought our tickets last weekend. Still cost me a pretty penny, but thinking I saved $800 I feel rich. Now, to convince my husband of that crazy math ... :) I bought them talking with an Alitala representative via Skype and have no complaints at all. I have learned from you all to stick to our resolve to pack light to the point of just carry on if possible. I did that pre-kids going to China years ago. No reason not to do that again. Anyone still looking to book an Alitalia flight, look at their website for that coupon for 10% off if you sign up for their e-newsletter.

I feel compelled to post an . We had a perfect trip on Alitlia to Rome and back. On time both ways. Great service. Actually, on the overnight trip there, we had found it funny in a nice way that after dinner service they announced they were dimming the lights for the movie and that guests could help themselves to water, soda and wine. And so it was! Can't imagine paddling up the aisle to pour myself a glass of wine on United! :) You're never assured of trouble-free flight these days anywhere, but to be fair, I'd look at old reviews with a grain of salt if you're looking at Alitalia currently.

We used Alitalia for our trip to Rome this past May and were very pleased. I felt there was more room between the seats, loved the idea of helping yourself to water, wine and snacks and the male flight attentdants made for great eye candy.

We flew from JFK to Rome on the new Alitalia last month. Absolutely loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat for all the reasons given above. The flight attendants are indeed VERY Italian. :-) I actually enjoyed it more than AirFrance. I would go out of my way to fly Alitalia.

If you don't mind, what was your round trip fare? I am about to book a September trip for a RS tour. Rate about $1100 roundtrip. The Alitalia arrival/departure times look attractive as well.

$1100 for September is a good price. I'd grab it.

Jerry - That's the same ballpark fare we paid for a June flight. I haven't done any price comparisons recently. But at the time it seemed even suspiciously good compared to other airlines for a non-stop flight.