Air Alitalia feedback please....?

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Paulie

If you have been following Alitalia and it's issues over the past 18 months, then you know that most of the financial suffering comes from within the organization and has been self inflicted by both management and the Unions. I have friends who, years later, are still waiting for their luggage to be delivered ("its still on the next plane")!! That said, when things go right, the airline, food and staff are wonderful. However, don't ever check ALL your clothes, especially the essentials, and never, ever check your medicines or things that you will NOT be able to do without or can not buy in Italy while on your trip!!

Last, as a frequent flier, I always have a plan in the back of my pocket and know what alternatives exist if Alitalia cancels your domestic flight (it happens with regularity) without notice. The more of their work you can "Suggest" that they do not have to do, such as alternative flight numbers and times to your destination, the better your chances are of getting where you want to go before your vacation is over!!

Good Luck!!

Lev Davidovich ;)

Don't worry it's not that bad. I would keep my fingers crossed though about cancellations. All airlines charge you for rebooking, depending on the fare restrictions and Alitalia is no exception. But when an airline cancels a flight, they are responsible for endorsing you to another company or to a different flight free of charge. This is based on my experience. I got stranded in Cagliari. This is your right as a passenger and you should know this. Loosing a luggage can happen to any airline company. Usually the more connecting flights, the more chances you have in loosing baggage. So keep your important stuffs in the hand carry luggage. I lost luggages with Delta Airlines and Northwest. I have not lost so far with Alitalia. Any bathroom in the plane can become smelly towards the end of the flight especially if it's long haul flight, let's say if it's from Seoul to Chicago or from Singapore to London. At the beginning of the flight, they always smell good, so don't pay attention to this. It's perfectly normal. The staff is rude? I find the Italian crew very friendly. But still if you travel from Europe to Canada, people (staff) don't act the same way as in North America. People are different everywhere. It does not mean they are rude just because they don't act the way you expect them to. So have a great time in Eastern Sicily and don't forget to see Giardini Naxos. :))

romeoitaly

Actually, I'm trying to think of something positive to say about Alitalia. Living here in Italy they are certainly nothing short of an Italian National embarrassment. I would love to tell you their problems are something new but they have been limping along for decades.

They are continually in trouble with the EU and other airlines due to unfair tactics by both the Government and Alitalia. The Italian government has pumped in Billions of (ilegal) funding from the tax payers money to continue their existence and therefore the executives pay packets too.

The organization is riddled with corruption, nepotism and incompetence and this is reflected in the way they treat their mostly Italian customers - who, by the way, can't wait to return for more!

Come summer time we all expect the annual stranding of Italians at airports waiting to commence their summer holidays. It really plays out like a scene from Monty Pythons.

That said, I wish you all the best, and sincerely hope that your trip is hassle free.
All the best!

Susan

I flew Alitalia last year from Rome to New York (JFK), and while the staff, food and bathrooms weren't that bad (it's an airplane for many hours - how good can you really expect the bathrooms and food to be), I did have a problem with them moving my flight time back several hours. They gave about two days warning (while I was already over there). I missed my connecting flight, and was stuck in New York overnight. In trying to discuss that with the airline staff, I got a shrug and a pat on the back. That said, I will never fly with them again.

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