Just wanted to make sure people were aware that this thread is out of date.
Alitalia's new policy: http://www.alitaliaagent.com/news-ar...cfm#infantseat

INFANT OCCUPYING A SEAT

Alitalia is introducing a new policy that will allow an infant to occupy a seat.

Starting August 06, 2012, reservations can be made permitting an infant to occupy a seat on board an AZ aircraft. Reservations are subject to a specific procedure.
The procedure has been endorsed by ENAC (Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile), and will be incorporated in the General Basic Manual, as of July 30, 2012.
Clients that want to purchase a seat for an infant, must use an approved car seat that conforms to specific requirements.
Infants occupying a seat will be permitted only on AZ operating flights (not permitted on other AZ affiliates: XM-Alitalia Express, VE-Volare C.A.I.) A.Gori’s team is coordinating the request for authorization to include airlines belonging to “Gruppo AZ.”
Only one infant per adult is permitted, even if the infant is occupying seat. In other words, one adult cannot travel with an infant on lap, and another infant occupying a seat.
The car seat must fit between the armrest of aircraft seats. (42cm / 16.5 inches).
The adult passenger is responsible for the proper anchoring of the car seat according to manufacture instructions (e.g. positioning gears to correct settings: FWD forward facing; RWD rear facing).
In case aircraft seat is equipped with an “airbag” seat belt, an “extension belt” will be used in order to implement the required system “disconnect”.
Reservations can be made only by the Alitalia Customer Center, Special Procedures Department. Following are phone numbers:
Calling from Italy: 06 65640
Calling from the US: 800 223 5730
Travel agents are not yet able to book infant occupying a seat via their GDSs. For assistance making such reservations, they should contact call center and select prompt for special procedures.
In order to confirm a seat the infant will be booked as a child (CHLD).
The airfare charged for the infant occupying a seat will be equal to 75% of the applicable adult fare. Infant ticket will be annotated with ticket designator CH25.
The reservation will include the appropriate SSR CHLD field with the date of birth. (4/CHLD-AZHK1/07AUG11-N1)
The reservation will include an OSI field labeled CARS. ARCO input will follow, shortly.
AZ Customer Center will pre-assign a window seat for infant, as well as adjacent seat for accompanying adult. Infant occupying a seat cannot be in the emergency exit row, or the row before, or the row after.
The baggage allowance will be that of CHLD.