Alitalia Passenger Reviews and Alitalia Customer Trip Reports

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ALITALIA review :  5 July 2009 by M Landau   (UK)

LHR-LIN, LIN-FCO, FCO-LHR this week. Flight from LHR took off 45 minutes late, all we were offered was a soft drink and a choice of salty or sweet. Next flight Linate to Rome we were dozing so missed the in flight snack and drink. The final leg of the journey was a disaster. We had paid for a direct flight from Rome to Heathrow. We were early for check in but there were 3 parties of school kids checking in. Alitalia did not have a group check-in desk. We waited over half an hour to check in 3 adults and were given seats 1 row from the rear of the aircraft. Again, a 45 minute wait to take off. Then, after being airborne for around 45 minutes, the captain announced we would be offloaded in Linate due to an engine failure. In all that time there had been no refreshment service. Instead of sending us to a transit lounge and keeping our luggage we were made to get our cases from the carousel and go through passport control as if we'd just landed in the country. Told to find an airline desk, the number of which was completely out of synch with every other desk. We were given a voucher for a snack, instead of the hot meal we had paid for onboard. There was no announcement when the replacement flight was finally ready for us. We were only alerted when the gaggle of kids could be seen passing their luggage through again. We had bought drinks in the secure area at Rome airport and had to ditch them since we had to pass through security and passport control once again. To add insult to injury we were then further searched before we could board the plane. For heaven sake they had just taken all the excess liquids from us, what more did they want? No apologies from anyone, no announcement as to seating so we all just used the same seat numbers as the original flight. And again, a salty or sweet snack on the plane. It is no wonder Alitalia went bust last year.

ALITALIA review :  1 July 2009 by M Thornber   (UK)

I have just completed 4 sectors with Alitalia, 2x2hours duration intra europe LHR-FCO-LHR and 2x1 hour duration domestic, FCO-VRN-FCO. They have to be the worst flights I have ever had the misfortune to be on. Granted they all arrived on time and the A320 aircraft flown on all sectors was comfortable even when full. However, if you expect any inflight bar or food service then I suggest you bring your own. This airline is dry! There was no bar available on any flight to either purchase or complimentary. No food either. We are talking 2 hours here. But you do get one soft drink (no ice ) and a choice of a biscuit or 'salty' - you can get a sip of coffee but don't expect a refill. You should know that all sectors were operated by Air One. Given the crew have so much spare time on their hands you hope they might even be nice to you but alas, somewhat officious when they did appear. I pity anyone who chooses a longhaul flight with Alitalia.

ALITALIA review :  29 June 2009 : by C Alcott

Had the worst flying experience of my life on Alitalia/AirOne from Rome to London. We were flying with 3 children under the age of 8 and they seated us all in different parts of the plane. The staff on the ground was unhelpful and could not care less about flight and reservation concerns. When we tried to get seats together the staff were unhelpful. The flight was an hour late boarding and passengers were given some bogus answer about the G7 meeting. When the plane became airborne the stewardess all went into use the restrooms while passengers waited. We were lucky to make our connection in London!

ALITALIA review :  1 June 2009 : by D Wright

LHR to Rome with Alitalia. Alitalia staff at Heathrow unfriendly. Cabin staff efficient but no one smiled. Decent coffee! Nothing to eat.

ALITALIA review :  12 May 2009 : by N Tuliakbay

LHR-FCO-TIA, three times this year. Horrible experience. Out of 13 segments flown, 12 were late, including two more than 2 hours, one missed connection. If I add an absolute lack of communication from ground staff, disgusting food, shabby aircraft and zero entertainment, I think this pretty much explains a zero score. Cabin crew are the only plus, most of them friendly and helpful.

ALITALIA review :  10 May 2009 : by James LeBlanc

YYZ-LIN via FCO. Saved $1000.00 over Air Canada, but what a terrible experience. Aircraft old and had ashtrays in the armrests. Public monitors for entertainment were not all working and those that were had green hues. 9 hours to Rome, one movie and one Alitalia commercial. Staff couldn't be bothered and other passengers got into a shoving match, yet staff walked by. And the food, not great despite other reviews I had read. If it can be avoided, I will never fly Alitalia again,.

ALITALIA review :  26 March 2009 : by P Allen

What a joke! Flew from Rome to New York. Seat would not recline so I sat upright for 9 hours. Rude staff, they make the French look good.

ALITALIA review :  21 March 2009 : by W Vandergronde

Had a flight booked from Toronto to Cairo via Rome. The Toronto flight from Toronto to rome was cancelled on December 22nd . Over half the occupants in the aircraft did not receive their luggage and a backlog of luggage from previous flights arrived late and had to be tagged to find their owners. The missing suitcase did arrive 13 days late and was shipped to our address. It was intact, and had everything in it. It is now march 19 almost 3 months after the cancelled flight and I have yet to be refunded for the cancelled flight. Totally unreliable airline, will never fly them again.

ALITALIA review :  6 March 2009 : by B Giolitti

Round trip from Rome to Toronto. Aircraft very old, headphones didn't work, but food was above the average and crew was nice. If you have problems or requests, the call centre works only if you call from Italy, from outside no way! Alitalia desk in Toronto opens only 2 or 3 hours a day. Any change to flight dates was impossible even with charge - no explanation was provided. Every time I used Alitalia I had problems, big problems. I am Italian but I will never buy an Alitalia ticket again.

ALITALIA review :  16 February 2009 : by C Chouleur

Brussels-Milano (Linate)-Brussels. Very cheap tickets decided me to fly again Alitalia. Both trips left on time and arrived ahead of schedule. On the way back the Embraer 170 used was very comfortable. The snacks served are the usual inedible sandwiches with a drink. Flight attendants looked bored and do the minimum. Altogether uneventful short flights.

ALITALIA review :  5 February 2009 : by Peter Lukassen

No wonder they are broke. Worst airline I ever had. Bad seats, which is hell flying from Rome to Buenos Aires for 14 hours, bad food, no maintenance for, I guess 5 years. Everything inside the plane seemed to be broken. The only positive thing was that on our way back, there was one friendly cabin attendant.

ALITALIA review :  19 January 2009 : by D McConnell

Avoid this airline at all costs!! Had an eight day family vacation to Italy. Strike at Rome airport caused us to have to go to Milan instead of Venice where our tour started. We had no luggage for entire trip! They delivered it to us the night before we left for the airport to return home. Customer service is non-existent-most of the phone numbers were either non- working, no one answered, or you were on hold for 30 minutes or more. And if you don't speak Italian you are out of luck with most of the people that did answer the phone. Now back in the US-no response to e-mail or faxes trying to get reimbursement for items purchased. The one customer agent I was able to get on the phone about a long-missing piece of luggage agreed the customer service department was a mess and that the airline is "going through a rough time" I'll say! Our vacation was a frustrating experience trying to find basic needs and getting no help in finding our where our luggage was. One piece did not arrive until we were home for over a week. The only reason I am giving a 2 over a 0 is that the flight was not bad-decent food and service-but we were in first class. JFK Alitalia agents were helpful in helping us reroute - but their assurances that they would get our luggage proved to be false. There was over 4 hours for that to happen-but it didn't. Lost luggage reporting in Milan took over 2 hours, and with a line of people waiting the agent left to go to lunch, or take a nap- who knows!

ALITALIA review :  13 January 2009 : by M Prince

Had a 3 day break booked from Heathrow to Rome Thursday to Saturday. Outgoing flight cancelled due to strike by Alitalia staff at Fiumicino - offered seat on BA flight going out 2 hours later. Bigger problem on return Saturday evening. Told delay due to weather in London - only advised of this by going to desk - no announcement, no info on board. Staff at Fiumicino were unhelpful and provoked arguments with passengers. Onboard the flight, service was rude staff, no warm drink - offered a sandwich or piece of cake and juice or water. Sat on plane for further 40 minutes. Won't fly Alitalia again

ALITALIA review :  6 January 2009 : by Daniel Henn

ATH to London via Rome. Service was okay, flight on time, however, baggage lost. Called the service number, was hard to get through. Direct flight might be okay, connection flights and you will have to wait for your bags.

ALITALIA review :  6 January 2009 : by W Vandergronde

Had a flight booked from Toronto to Cairo via Rome. The Toronto flight was cancelled early in the day and luckily I was watching the status and my travel agent was able to rebook us at our expense on airline Etihad to Cairo via Abu Dhabi the next day. The return home flight was on Alitalia and the flight left Cairo a half hour late - staff seemed pleasant, though the plane was dated and seats worn. The connecting flight in Rome was delayed 2 hours 50 minutes. The plane was very dated, seats worn, duct-taped, inflight entertainment was via old style television monitors, my entertainment system was not working. We arrived 2 hours late, one suitcase arrived and the other did not. Over 1/2 the occupants in the aircraft did not receive their luggage and a backlog of luggage from previous flights arrived late and had to be tagged to find their owners. This seemed to be routine with Alitalia flights in Toronto. Never again will I ever fly this airline, not under a new name or anything. Please steer clear of this airline as it is bad news.

ALITALIA review :  31 December 2008 : by R Harmon

Dec 16 we were to fly to Barcelona from Chicago, via Rome. The flight to Rome was cancelled so Alitalia put us on an Air One flight to Milan. We were to then go to Rome and on to Barcelona. The flight to Milan was late so we missed our connecting flight to Rome. Alitalia put us on an Iberia flight from Milan to Barcelona that left 10 hours later. After waiting 10 hours, Iberia would not honor our ticket and said they "never had an arrangement with Alitalia." The Alitalia woman then put us on a flight from Milan from Linate airport (an hour away) for 8:00 the following morning. Took a bus to Linate and spent the night there. Alitalia could not give us a hotel voucher. The woman in Milan said we could complain when we got home but made it clear that no one would do anything about anything ever. Our flight back went as scheduled, but our bag has disappeared. In Rome, on the bus to the plane, suitcases could be seen piled up on the tarmac, and scattered about, like they'd been left there for days. So we don't expect to ever see ours again. The plane was filthy, the staff dismissive. I wish the airline would just go out of business entirely and stop selling tickets because the tickets are apparently worthless.

ALITALIA review :  31 December 2008 : by L Adlington

Totally unreliable. We have had three flights booked through Alitalia, and so far have not been on any of them. Only through quick action on our part and booking alternative flights and accommodation (we would have been left in the airport) have we been able to be where we had planned for Christmas. Due to Alitalia, we didn't have any luggage though. As all clothes and presents where in the cases, you can imagine, how we felt. Never again. and I hope they receive everything they deserve.

ALITALIA review :  24 December 2008 : by L Friedman

Flight was cancelled without warning. Offer to rebook five days later- but that flight was cancelled too. Would never use them again. Ground staff was rude and unhelpful.

ALITALIA review :  11 December 2008 : by Alan Thompson

This is a warning for Alitalia passengers to check their bookings. Alitalia is making unannounced changes to its timetable, I only discovered by reading an Italian newspaper complaining about flight cuts to Puglia. My flight in late December to Brindisi via Rome can no longer operate as the connection with the midday flight from Heathrow is cancelled. I called Alitalia and got a booking on an earlier flight pairing. The rep apologised and said things are changing daily and advised me to check even the new booking ahead of the day. This is I guess down to consolidation ahead of the merger with AirOne.

ALITALIA review :  12 November 2008 : by Wayne Watson

Toronto to Rome return. Flights chosen because of convenient arrival, departure times. Both ways on old 767 Aircraft. Aircraft poorly maintained, washrooms not kept up during flight, food and other debris in seat tracks at floor level. Seat plugs for entertainment did not work on my seats either way. On return flight my emergency exit seat had a partial arm rest that was broken in half and was duct taped to cover the sharp edges. Flight crew indifferent at best. Meal service was adequate but after the service the flight crew disappeared and did not appear until about an hour out of Toronto. If you wanted anything you had to get up and go back to the galley and get it yourself. My question is if the interior of the aircraft reflects the quality of maintenance and upkeep then I have concerns about the overall maintenance of the aircraft.

ALITALIA review :  7 November 2008 : by Alan Thompson

LHR-FCO-BDS return. All flights on time. One suitcase missing on arrival at BDS, was there the next day when I went to check. Crews seemed chirpier than usual despite huge uncertainty that week over the airline's future. Planes are old but clean and very good legroom. Food drab. Very good price, always cheaper than Ryanair at half term.

ALITALIA review :  4 November 2008 : by Marco Sangiacomo

Rome - Dubai business class. Flight left with more than one hour delay due to traffic congestion. Aircraft was an old B767 and it showed all its age. Seats and IFE was very '80s style. Plenty of space, although seats are worn out, recline only partially and do not allow to comfortably nap, armrests badly scratched. IFE almost non existent, with no personal video, only an old projector and common screen for the whole cabin. Good food and service by the cabin crew. Alitalia did not supply Fast Track card for travelers in business class and this cost me a 2 hours queue at the immigration counter in Dubai. Alitalia Lounge at Fuimicino Airport Terminal C it's a joke. Overall experience: cheap ticket, although I've got more or less what I was expecting.