Alitalia MilleMiglia - Anyone Fly Alitalia Lately, LAX to Rome?

New to the forum, so if this is the wrong section to be posting my thread, my apologies...

Traveling to Italy for the first time in June and booked a direct flight to Rome from LAX on Alitalia. (I'm a Delta skymiles member but couldn't find an upgradeable fare that would work for my trip - so I booked an economy plus ticket with Alitalia)

The more I dig, the more I see horror stories of flying with Alitalia. Although I've seen the 777-200 ER's they're using for this route will be newly upgraded, so that sounds nice.

Anyone out there fly on Alitalia lately? If so, what has your experience been like? Greatly appreciate any input. I have enough time, that if needed, I can cancel my reservation with them and look at other options - most likely Delta, AF or KLM.

Thank you!

JGfromOC, welcome to FlyerTalk!

Please follow the thread as it moves to the forum devoted to Alitalia. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Most horror stories are old (2009 and earlier) when Alitalia almost went bankrupt so there was many delays, lost luggage etc., but that's not the situation anymore luckily. My only worry for you would be that the updated 777's have a 3-4-3 configuration in economy, but since you're in economy plus you'll be getting 2-4-2 so everything's fine there too. Basically there shouldn't be any problems at all.:)

Thank you for the feedback. Pretty excited to try out their new Y+ cabin...even more excited my flight is nonstop from LAX to FCO.

It'll be a great flight, so enjoy.^

Thank you for the feedback. Pretty excited to try out their new Y+ cabin...even more excited my flight is nonstop from LAX to FCO.

I love the LAX - FCO routing - will probably do it this year as well..

Personally I find it easier to go via London because I have to "backtrack" south from Milan / GOA to FCO so it makes my flying time at least three hours longer (777 slower than BA 747) BUT were I to fly from LAX destination ROME and not other towns in Northern Italy I would definately pick AZ^

Yeah, the chance to fly direct to FCO from LAX is pretty awesome. Starting to get more and more excited for this trip - not until June though. I'll be sure to post some pics, etc. from the flight in here once I get back.

The new ClassicaPlus seat on the 777 aircraft is the exact same as the AIRFRANCE Premium Voyageur seat.

I flew the LAX->FCO on Alitalia (in Biz Class) in April 2011 and it still had the old (and very run-down) business seats. At the time they said over the phone that they had no plans to update the planes on the LAX-FCO route.

Do those old 777-200's now have updated biz class cabins with the nice lie-flat seats? Anyone experienced that yet? Looking to book another trip this October!

Kirby

Take a look at the sticky thread - all B777's now have the updated business class seats.

Bungler, I just saw that sticky -- I love it! I truly thought that Alitalia was going to let the lone LAX-FCO 777 languish away with old seats until it was old and rusty. Great sticky: thanks so much.

Kirby

Just did a B777 today, reg. BK

Half the TV's didn't work, and most of the reading lights didn't.

Lovely seat mind you.

I'm 6'3" so I'm allllllll about the seats and the ability to stretch out! I take a sleeping pill at the start of the flight, eventually nod off and then wake up an hour outside of Rome. Thanks for that in-person update... I think I wanna try these new flatbeds!

Kirby

I was just able to switch my flight to FCO-LAX on Aug 26, so I'm excited now reading the sticky that they have new seats.

Since the return flight (FCO-LAX) leaves in the morning anyone know what the meals will be?

They'll serve lunch about an hour or so after takeoff. A small snack midway and another meal about two hours before arrival.

I'm back on the LAX flight next week.. Haven't been on a 'new' 777 yet so am curious

I'm back on the LAX flight next week.. Haven't been on a 'new' 777 yet so am curious

Which cabin, terminalfive? I'm flying that route in October in C.

Flying J and interested to see the cabin on the 777. Love the new A330 although as I have said before don't find Y+ seats very confortable. Will try and walk the plane..

J on the reconfigured 777 is really, really nice! I flew Y+ on the 777, which is far and beyond better than Y+ on A330. Enjoy your flight, it will be a good one. Hoping they continue their LAX-FCO service through November. Looking to go back in J this fall.

Didn't mention I'm flying ex US
Anyway at LAX now - check in pretty straightforward and am now in AF lounge. Nothing special but good views of the runway - just saw the AF 388 arriving
Flight looks on time - I'll post back later

Nothing special but good views of the runway

Not a great choice in terms of food, that's for sure! :) Have a good flight.

OK - I've already been on the A330 but a 777 is a 777 and given the choice I'd go for a newly "renovated" 777 any day

My flight was on Sestriere - old livery

Nothing much to point out except in brief bullet points

-> lounge poor vs BA but OK, as AlicorporateUK points out no food (and LAX has a lot of skyteam flights so surprising)
TIP - if you have priority pass go to the Maple Leaf Air Canada lounge 20 metres away - its better (and has a small selection of food)

-> boarding flight on time

-> quick taxiing and we were off. Very quick bringing headsets / newspapers etc. Lunch / dinner was OK. Starter a bit lame but the pasta was good. Menu's are clear and selection of drinks OK even though I think in Magnifica they should have a proper Champagne

-> AVOD prett average selection of films. Raistlin doesn't agree with me on this one but with such a great screen they really could have a better selection

-> Seat - its been reviewed many times and I confirm - its excellent. Best J seat out there - I kid you not

On time arrival - only had one hour connection but made it OK. LAX is a great destination and AZ must keep the route

Cheers for reporting back to us, terminalfive and thank you for suggesting the Air Canada's lounge. Great destination indeed, LAX - will AZ keep the route all-year-round this time? I have already been 3 times from the beginning of this year and absolutely loved it (even though I was actually staying in Venice). I flew AF (twice) & KL (both in J) and was quite happy with both airlines, even though I didn't try the A380.

Thanks for the update terminalfive! Will be flying the 777 in J to Tokyo first week of September, so happy to read positive things...

FCO-LAX is currently planned to continue with decreasing frequency until 15 November, and then stop. Restarting around April probably. Would be nice to have a West Coast flight year-round, but LAX doesn't work well in Y around January/February.

Do they ever release business class awards on this non-stop? I didn't see any on the dates I checked on EF.

Do they ever release business class awards on this non-stop? I didn't see any on the dates I checked on EF.

what dates? Since this is a once a day flight, my guess is reward space is going to be tough to find.

I got a seat in J in August

There are seats - but they are hard to find. You need to be patient

Strangely I couldn't find on BA in J or F either in August.. LAX not easy destination to redeem on

Yes have flown it recently. With very positive experience. Flew economy plus , service food ad seat were all you could ask for. Fly with no worries

Yes have flown it recently. With very positive experience. Flew economy plus , service food and seat were all you could ask for. Fly with no worries

Flying J LAX > FCO in a month...will report back re: experience

Flying J LAX > FCO in a month...will report back re: experience

When next month? I am doing to the same.

I've been on the new 777's from LAX->FCO and they are NICE. NIIIIIIIIIICE. Grab one of the window-side single pods. Comfy flatbed (I'm 6'3"), very private feeling. If you get the middle section there are 2 types of seats: honeymoon-style where the two seats are together with the "walls" of the shell on the outside, and 2 seats together with a "wall" in the middle, for people who aren't traveling together but still want some separation between seats. All have aisle access.

And the food is killer. Having done biz class on Alitalia, Air France, KLM and Delta, this one is the one to beat. Enjoy your flight!

Kirby

I've been on the new 777's from LAX->FCO and they are NICE. NIIIIIIIIIICE. Grab one of the window-side single pods. Comfy flatbed (I'm 6'3"), very private feeling. If you get the middle section there are 2 types of seats: honeymoon-style where the two seats are together with the "walls" of the shell on the outside, and 2 seats together with a "wall" in the middle, for people who aren't traveling together but still want some separation between seats. All have aisle access.

And the food is killer. Having done biz class on Alitalia, Air France, KLM and Delta, this one is the one to beat. Enjoy your flight!

Kirby

Great to hear mate! ^

A lot of Alitalia 'bashers' wouldn't believe this but AZ J is world class in the air

As I have said many a time the same cannot be said re the services ( and longes ) on the ground

A lot of Alitalia 'bashers' wouldn't believe this but AZ J is world class in the air

As I have said many a time the same cannot be said re the services ( and longes ) on the ground

totally agree. I've found AZ's customer service to be on par with other carriers, no worse and no better. But their in-flight product is one of the most underrated in Europe.

As I have said many a time the same cannot be said re the services ( and longes ) on the ground

Lounges are just okay-ish, but ground service for premium pax is not bad actually.

Hello all, Mrs. Number 21 and I are traveling LAX-FCO-NAP-FCO-LAX mid-September and are looking forward to trying out the lie flat seats. Having never flown on AZ or into FCO we have a couple questions.

What lounge do you use when flying out of LAX? Our connection time in FCO is 1 & ½ hours (for the FCO-NAP flight), should this be enough? For those who travel with a companion what do you prefer - window side pods and being a little separated, or the honeymoon style seats? Thanks for the info.

Hello all, Mrs. Number 21 and I are traveling LAX-FCO-NAP-FCO-LAX mid-September and are looking forward to trying out the lie flat seats. Having never flown on AZ or into FCO we have a couple questions.

What lounge do you use when flying out of LAX? Our connection time in FCO is 1 & ½ hours (for the FCO-NAP flight), should this be enough? For those who travel with a companion what do you prefer - window side pods and being a little separated, or the honeymoon style seats? Thanks for the info.

you'll use the AF lounge upstairs at LAX T2. Nice, but nothing special. Your connection time is fine. Passport control is a breeze when you get in to Rome. If together, I'd take the honeymoon seats. Not row 5 though. Row 3 is best.

Hi,

Not sure if my question would fit here, but I was wondering, what if I am able to find an award ticket to LAX for the coming months, but later plan to change the date to next year, will AZ rebook me to another partner or what happens?

(I am trying to get to Vancouver with my expiring miles for next year, but this proves to be horribly difficult [admitted also by their call center staff] for availability with ST partners - I currently do have one on-hold to Toronto (but still another 4 hours to Vancouver))

Cheers!