Alitalia

Lets start with the good. On time plane clean lucked out and had an empty seat beside me. Flight attendants perfunctory at best. The food - never in my 50 years of flying overseas once or twice a year have I experienced anything quite as bad as my recent roundtrip flights from Boston to Rome. The food was barely edible the juices were thick sugar syrup with a chemical taste floury snacks were stale. The coup de grace was something the flight attendant called a zucchini pizza? It was a 2" thick piece of soggy white flour bread (calling it bread is being kind) with a thin layer of shredded zucchini with some type of indescribable flavoring. I took one bite out of sheer curiosity it tasted as disgusting as it looked. There is apparently no one managing their catering service. Anything seems to go! I don't expect gourmet in economy but I do expect vaguely edible. The vegetarian meals were equally bad. My suggestion should you choose to fly Alitalia bring your own food and drink.

Rome to Paris and return (FCO-CDG-FCO) first leg on a quite old A321 but well maintained return on a new A320. Our flight from Paris was cancelled no explication given but we were boarded on the last flight of the evening. I can't blame Alitalia for this issue it happens. The return was calm and all in all a good experience. Will fly again.

FCO to LHR return. All flights on time cabin crew professional and polite food ok but no inflight entertainment system available (doesn't matter on a 2 hours flight). Will definitely fly them again.

AMS-LIN (A320) and LIN-LCY (E190). Big jumble of flight numbers etc but both aircraft in Alitalia colours and what the ticket said so assume I flew them! Both flights comfortable especially LIN/LCY as aircraft seemed nearly new. Mid morning and afternoon travel times so soft drink and packet of nibbles fine for the flights and crew relaxed and smiling. Arrived on time-bags off quickly-good price - all that's needed. Used the self-print boarding pass at LIN (as no printer access when doing online check-in) Worked well and easy to use and in a choice of languages. Would use again.

Heathrow/Lamezia Terme return via Milan. 3 of the 4 flights were on time planes of varied ages but clean staff polite and level of service what you expect on short flights. The delayed flight was because of air traffic control and LHR congestion. My most impressive observation was when we were bussed from the aircraft into the terminal at Milan Linate. A member of the cabin crew carried an elderly passenger's small hand luggage down the steps and put it on the bus for her before going back onto the plane. That is caring service.

Flew Magnifica Class from Abu Dhabi to Rome Fiumicino. Seat was very comfortable (leather duvet large pillow). Entertainment system very good with a larger than average screen. Food was absolutely great (freshness / quality / quantity). Service very attentive too.

I recently travelled JFK to Rome in Premium Economy (Classica Plus). 50 minute delay out of JFK crowded conditions no entertainment in Premium and Economy Sections of the 777 food was dreadful - a dry chicken or a chopped beef and pasta entree that was very unappealing and all of it served with plastic cutlery. Crew were not very engaged and disappeared after it became evident that around 200 folks would not have entertainment on this long flight to Rome. Overall a dismal experience and not a great way to start a trip to Italy!

LHR-LIN and MXP-NRT in economy. Flight from LHR on time to Milan Linate. Very clean comfortable A320 with nice leather seats seatback LCD but no snacks. Overall Altialia's short haul service was a welcome surprise however I was disappointed that no drinks/meal service was provided. Return flight was similar and on time into LHR. MXP-NRT was my first long haul with Alitalia onboard 777. Very pleasant and professional welcome onboard however the cabin outbound to Tokyo was not cleaned sufficiently and found crumbs under my seat. Seatback IFE displays were small but provided an interactive movie/music/games/ menu seats also provided with AZ embroidered pillow blanket and headphones. Only problems I encountered with my seat was inadequate legroom due to the IFE box under my seat A and a scratched window on both flights. Catering onboard was fantastic and found the crew on both sectors hard working 2 main meals snacks on both occasions and a continuous drinks service. Choice of meals onboard was an expected Japanese or Italian. For a 12 hour flight I felt comfortable and well looked after by the crew. Both flights on time.

On the flight from JFK to Rome the inflight entertainment didn't work (staff didn't seem that interested in doing anything about it) the food was the worst airline food I have had in years and the seats were very uncomfortable. The next flight from Rome to Tel Aviv was equally as bad and involved the most disorganized boarding process with people boarding from both ends of the plane with no rhyme or reason. On all of the flights the staff seemed generally disinterested.

FCO-AHO and back on Alitalia flight out of Fiumicino left on time cabin appearance was very good and crew professional. Flight out of AHO also very satisfactory Airbus 320 with working video screens the crew offered drinks and a snack for a 40 minutes flight was more than enough. The service is improving better than a few years ago.