“We wanted to let you know that you should NEVER EVER EVER let anyone travel Alitalia again. They were by far the WORST airline we have EVER flown, and that is saying a lot since between us we’ve travelled on many, many, airlines.

They lost our luggage on the way over, and we received the last suitcase (the one that actually contained our clothing) 3 days before returning home. My seat on the plane was broken, and we couldn’t change because the plane was full. The attendants were surly and very unhelpful. The food was DISGUSTING — I was shocked that the staff weren’t ashamed to be serving it. It was inedible. They were unhelpful and surly in Rome airport, after we arrived 7 hours late (due to the snowstorm in Boston).

They lost all our luggage on the way back. We got home yesterday, and we have no idea if we will get it back or not. The attendants on the plane were also surly. The food was marginally better than on the trip over (we actually ate it this time because we were starved) — but still disgusting. When I went to the galley to get a drink, the attendants were sitting and gossiping behind closed curtains, and were visibly annoyed to be interrupted by me asking for more drinks and cups to replace the supplies missing on the “self-serve” drink cart they had left out. (I have never seen self-serve before on a flight, have you?) After losing our luggage, we had to wait in line with about 30-40 other people with only one person at the desk to take the reports. When I told an Alitalia baggage employee that they SHOULD go bankrupt as no one should suffer through what we did, she told me I was “mean.” (This is while she was downloading dozens of bags from the carousel of our flight which belonged to no-one on our flight, but to people who had lost their bags days before).

We really wish we could say we were better rested from our vacation, but unfortunately, that’s not the case…. I’d like to write to Alitalia, but I’m not sure that with all their problems it would find its way to an office of anyone who cares. If you have any ideas, let me know.

Wish us luck that we get our luggage back… “

Alitalia is like a Phoenix of sorts. It seems dead and there it is rising again.

The two 767s being sold off should be replaced by Air One’s two A330, which are more cost effective and will match more evenly with Alitalia’s fleet of A319/320/321 aircraft.

The rest of the aircraft will be replaced by Air One’s fleet in one way or another. the MD-80s….good riddance! Who will buy them? Who knows. I think AA’s MD-80s were sold for crap rather than to other carriers.

Honestly, I think if Alitalia can get labour and management on the same page they can be a significant carrier, especially if partnered with either Air France-KLM or Lufthansa.

Do I see the Unions & Management getting along? Unfortunately I don’t, in envision them seeing eyes to eye. If they can’t get on the same page this is a €1,000,000,000 cash pit doomed to fail and drag Air One down with it.

A few days ago I wrote about “An Alitalia Christmas” here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2008/12/25/an-alitalia-christmas-can-alitalia-save-its-self-from-alitalia/

If you get bored give it a read….canceling 140 flight in the days leading up to Christmas…at least have a severe snow storm to try and pull that off!

Happy Flying & Happy New Year

-Fish

“ALITALIA!?” ARE YOU CRAZY!?” mid you, he was born in italy and lived there for a long time…. so it seems that the italians dont even want them around:)

Can you provide a price list? :)

I’ve used Alitalia a few times. I haven’t had any problems, but it was enough flights to make a recommendation. I have heard word-of-mouth disappointment in the airline though. Something missing there. Competency, perhaps.