The fastest and most convenient way to travel abroad is by air. If you are planning to travel to Europe or the New World countries for business or tourism, you can use the Italian airline Alitalia.
Alitalia
Alitalia was founded in 1946. For more than half a century, it bore the name Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali and was an enterprise with a significant part of the state capital, and in 1960 it had the status of the official air carrier of the Olympics in Rome.
But since the beginning of the 21st century, the company faced economic difficulties and in 2008 it was merged with Air One. The merger helped expand the aircraft fleet, increase the number of destinations and flights.
Alitalia is currently the largest airline in Italy and the fifth largest airline in Europe. Its headquarters are located in Rome, at the Fiumicino airport (Leonardo da Vinci).
Subsidiaries: Alitalia Express, Air One, Volare Airlines, Alitalia CityLiner. In February 2021, Alitalia received the title of the most punctual in the world for the umpteenth time.
Routes
The company's flights cover most countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, North and Latin America. In Russia, Alitalia's planes fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Samara.
From the Russian Federation you can go to European countries, North Africa and the Middle East and the American continent. In addition, from Russia on the liners of this company it is convenient to get to Italy: you can fly to Rome, Turin, Milan (Malpensa airport), Venice (Marco Polo airport), Naples, Catania, Bari and other cities.
But this company has no flights to the resort of Rimini, popular among Russian tourists.
Aviapark
Alitalia's air fleet includes 98 Airbus A330, A321, A320, A319, Boeing B777, Embraer E190 and E175 aircraft.
The number of seats in them varies from 144 to 382.
More than 50 more aircraft have been added to the fleet following the merger with Air One.
Service on board
The aircraft have four classes of cabins.
- Economy class (Classica) - compact cabins with a row spacing of 81 cm. For in-flight entertainment, individual screens for watching movies and TV programs with a diagonal of 6.5 or 9 inches are offered. Superior Economy (Classica Plus) has a row spacing of 1 m. Movie screens are 10.4 "or 10.6", and blankets and pillows are provided.
- Business Class includes two categories of comfort: Business Class Medium Ottima for medium-haul flights and Magnifica - enhanced comfort for long-haul flights. Chairs with leather upholstery, footrest and adjustable headrest are equipped with reading lamps, individual monitors with a diagonal of 15-15.4 inches. In the Magnifica salons, the backrests recline 180 ° and transform into a bed with a massage function. Travelers are provided with blankets and pillows.
Meals on board Alitalia are provided for passengers of all classes. In economy class, travelers receive snacks and drinks, and on flights over 3 hours - hot meals.
Premium Economy passengers are served a “welcome drink” before take-off, warm hand towels, snacks, breakfast or hot meals, espresso coffee, wine and liquor.
In business class, you will be offered an aperitif, homemade Italian cuisine, Italian wines, Limoncelllo liqueur, premium coffee and tea.
On international flights, you can purchase branded goods from the Griffair catalog with a 25% discount. In addition, the company publishes the Ulisse in-flight magazine.
For 9 years in a row, Alitalia has received the Global Traveler award in the category "Best cuisine on board an aircraft" and for the last 2 years - the award in the category "Best business class seat". The rating is compiled based on passenger reviews.
MilleMiglia program
Those who often use the services of "Alitalia" can join the loyalty program. The MilleMiglia program credits the passenger's individual account with bonus points not only for each flight, but also for purchases made on board the aircraft, for the purchase of insurance policies and the use of banking services.
Bonus miles can be used to pay for the full fare of an air ticket or part of it, or for various services: enhanced comfort seats, extra baggage, access to a premium lounge, expedited boarding, and an upgrade in the cabin.
The company is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, in which the rules for loyalty programs and bonus accruals are unified. Therefore, you can collect bonus miles to your account using the services of not only Alitalia, but also other airlines: Air Europa, Air France, KLM, AeroMexico, China Airlines, Korean Air, Aeroflot.
Achievement of more than 20,000 miles will be issued with the Ulisse Frequent Flyer Club Card. The accumulated bonuses can not only be used independently, but also transferred to relatives or friends.
Buying tickets
You can buy a ticket of “Alitalia” airline online, at the contact center or at the company's ticket offices. A service fee is charged upon purchase:
- € 3 when booking online (only for passengers over 12 years old);
- 20-30 € - when purchased at the contact center;
- 12-35 € - at the checkout.
The company also invites passengers to use services for mobile devices. The iOS app is available in the Apple Store, for Android - in Google Play. They can be downloaded from the main page of the official website, which has a Russian version.
To buy a ticket online, you need:
- On the main page of the website www.alitalia.com open the "Book" section.
- Select points of departure and destination, date and direction (one way or round trip), and click the "Search" button.
- Select the number of passengers and class (economy or business)
- Next, the flight schedule of "Alitalia" will open. It shows the total ticket price, including taxes. You can choose only direct flights or any possible ones.
- Select a flight and familiarize yourself with the conditions that are offered when purchasing air tickets.
- Get information about the selected flight. If everything suits you, click "Next".
- Enter your personal data and contacts - email and phone number. The name and surname must be written in Latin, as in a foreign passport.
- Take advantage of the free seat selection service.
- Select a seat in the salon and confirm your choice.
- The place is reserved. You can change it or continue your booking.
- Select a payment system to pay for the ticket and enter the card details. Don't forget to enter the card security code. You can pay for the ticket right away.
We accept American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards, as well as WebMoney and Yandex.Money. The ticket receives an individual booking code.
To check your ticket booking, you need to enter the "My Flights" section on the main page of the site.
Enter the booking code, name and surname for which the ticket is registered, and click "Search".
Refunds of tickets to Alitalia are possible in the event that it is provided for by the tariff plan. You can get a refund of all or part of the returned tickets, as well as airport and security fees, but the service fee is non-refundable. Refund conditions can be found at the time of booking and purchasing a ticket.
Check-in
You can check in for an Alitalia flight in different ways: online through the website or mobile app, by phone or at the airport. But not all of these methods are available for all categories of passengers.
Telephone registration is only possible for members of the exclusive Ulisse and Freccia Alata clubs. Fast check-in at the airport terminals (fast check-in) is not available when departing from Russia.
Online check-in is not allowed for passengers with disabilities, children traveling unaccompanied by their parents, in the presence of special cargo (large sports equipment, animals), as well as for those who fly in Russia from St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
For online registration, you need to go to the main page of the site in the "Registration" section.
Enter the code or ticket number, as well as your first and last name, and click "Search".
Then you can choose a seat in the cabin, if you have not done so when purchasing your ticket, and pay for excess baggage at a discount.
But you cannot save and print your boarding pass if you are flying from Moscow or flying to Moscow or St. Petersburg. For passengers on these flights, boarding passes are issued exclusively at airports.
Online check-in opens one day before the flight departure and closes 2 hours before the flight. Check-in at airports ends in 40-45 minutes for flights within Europe and 60 minutes for long-haul flights, and for flights to the United States - in 3.5 hours.
The boarding gate for Alitalia flights closes 15 minutes before departure.
Alitalia's online e-ticket check-in can be done using the mobile app. To do this, you need to enter your booking code, ticket number or MilleMiglia promo code, select your seat and receive your boarding pass via SMS.
Baggage
On board the aircraft, it is allowed to take hand luggage weighing no more than 8 kg, as well as one additional small item (briefcase, laptop, handbag).
Alitalia carry-on baggage measures a maximum of 55 x 35 x 25 cm, including handles, side pockets and castors. The size and weight can be checked in a special measuring device located near the check-in counter. If the carry-on baggage exceeds the required parameters, it is checked in as one piece of baggage.
If you are flying without baggage and all your belongings fit in your carry-on baggage, you can purchase tickets at the Light fare (no baggage). Cargo that exceeds the parameters of hand luggage is classified as baggage and is paid additionally: 25 euros on the website when checking in for a flight or from 50 euros when checking in at the airport.
Light tickets are not sold for some destinations - in particular, when traveling to / from St. Petersburg (Pulkovo airport, St. Petersburg).
The weight of baggage you can carry for free depends on the flight class. In Economy Class, this is 1 seat up to 23 kg, in Premium Economy - 2 seats up to 23 kg, in Business Class - 2 seats up to 32 kg.
The maximum allowable baggage dimensions are calculated using the "height + width + depth" formula and must not exceed 158 cm. On aircraft departing from Japan, Brazil, India and the Middle East (except Israel), you can carry 2 pieces of baggage up to 23 kg in Economy Class for each.
The cost of carrying baggage that exceeds the established parameters is different for different directions of flights. For one additional piece of luggage, you will pay from 60 to 100 euros, and if there are several additional pieces - 200 euros each.
For flights to the United States and Mexico, additional seat fares range from € 85 to € 240.
The surcharge for baggage that does not fit into the standard dimensions or weight is calculated according to various formulas. If the size is exceeded, then you will pay from 250 to 370 euros, for excess weight from 23 to 32 kg - from 60 to 100 euros.
- The maximum weight allowance for one piece of baggage is 32 kg. If the weight of the load is greater, it must be divided into two separate places for safety reasons.
- Musical instruments in cases up to 115 cm long and weighing up to 8 kg can be carried in hard cases instead of regular carry-on luggage. A separate seat is purchased for cellos and double basses.
- Sports equipment weighing up to 23 kg (bicycles, golf, tennis, scuba diving equipment, etc.) is carried free of charge in a sturdy compact package, like regular baggage.
- But tandem bicycles, surfboards and windsurf boards are always considered excess baggage and are paid separately at a rate of 75 to 200 euros, depending on the direction of the flight.
- Sharp objects (scissors, pencil sharpeners, penknives and other knives), sporting weapons and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on baggage.
- Lighters, electronic cigarettes can be carried with you, but they cannot be used during the flight.
- Liquids up to 100 ml (perfumes, cosmetics) are transported only packed in a transparent bag, duty-free drinks - sealed.
- All other liquids must be checked in as checked baggage.
- Matches, lighters, e-cigarettes, portable chargers, and lithium-ion batteries are not permitted in the cargo hold.
If your baggage is damaged or lost, please contact the airline office at the airport of arrival.
Pets can be transported on Alitalia liners. Small pets can travel in cages in the cabin, provided that their weight together with the container does not exceed 10 kg. Large animals (up to 75 kg with a container) are transported in a special cargo compartment.
Payment depending on the direction from 40 to 200 euros (or 320 Canadian dollars for flights to / from Canada) for transporting a pet both in the cabin and in the hold.
Traveling with children
The company makes sure that traveling with children is comfortable and safe. For babies under 2 years old, special rates Infant (without a separate seat) or Child (with a seat) are used. Children 2-12 years old are also charged at Child fare.
On the planes of some long-haul flights, special cradles are issued for babies up to 76 cm tall and weighing up to 11 kg. When booking tickets, they must be ordered in advance.
For children up to 100 cm tall and weighing 10 to 20 kg, a car seat with a safety belt can be carried on board and installed on the seat free of charge. In addition, there are special seats for children in the economy and business class cabins with seat belts designed for toddlers. They can be ordered when booking tickets.
Baby strollers are allowed on the plane free of charge (in the cabin or in luggage), regardless of the ticket class.
Children under 14 (on domestic flights) and under 15 (on international flights) can only fly with an adult. Teenagers are allowed to travel on their own.
For children from 5 years old and teenagers up to 17 years old, you can order the service "Child / teenager traveling unaccompanied by adults", which costs from 60 to 125 euros one way.
For young people from 12 to 26 years old, special rates apply, which include discounts when paying for tickets and free transportation of one piece of baggage up to 23 kg.
Infant and Child fares are not used when purchasing Light tickets. In this case, the ticket prices for infants and children are the same as for adults.
Reference Information
Representative office in Moscow: st. Mytnaya, building 1, building 1.
Information support in Russia: +7 (495) 221-82-00.
Serving MilleMiglia program members in Russia: phone +7 (495) 221-11-30, fax +7 (495) 967-01-09.
Customer service department (contacts for making claims):
- in Italy - e-mail [email protected], tel. (+39) 06 656402;
- in Russia - email [email protected], fax +7 (495) 995-04-10.
Official website in Russian: www.alitalia.com/ru_ru
Departures of all Alitalia flights from Moscow (from February 1, 2021): Sheremetyevo airport, terminal E.
Other airlines in Italy
There are other airlines in Italy that provide international and domestic passenger services. If you are planning a trip to the Mediterranean and Europe, you can use their services. These, in addition to the subsidiaries of Alitalia, include:
- Air Dolomiti is the leading regional airline in Northern Italy.
- Air Italy - domestic and international flights in Italy, there is a representative office in Russia.
- Blu-Express is a low-cost link of Blue Panorama Airlines S. p.A., there is a representative office in Russia.
- Ernest Airlines is a low-cost airline with international flights.
- FlyValan - flights from Genoa to European cities.
- Charter carriers: Blue Panorama Airlines (there are flights to Russia), Mistral Air, Neos.
Conclusion
Alitalia is a popular airline with routes to all corners of the world.In Russia, you can use its services when departing from 4 cities.
Convenient booking of tickets via the Internet on the Russian-language website is provided. You can choose from different rates and level of amenities, and if you often use air transport, you can enjoy profitable loyalty programs.
