Having read very negative reports of AZ both here and on aviation websites, it was with some trepidation that I embarked on my trip with this airline in September 2004. Particularly as the week we flew was the week when the airline wre much in the news with regards to potential bakrupcy, strikes, and blockades, etc. So all in all, I wasn't looking forward to this flight!
However, our four sectors (MAN - MXP, MXP - NAP and then back again the same route) and two transits were hassle-free and a better service than I have experienced from some of the other 'national' carriers with better reputations.
We flew out of T2 at MAN which IMO the least pleasant of the three terminals, with little in the way of services and amenties. Alitalia boarded us through the secret gate - gate 310, which appeared to be only available to people who were very determined to search for it, as it wasn't signposted at all. We then had to take a bus to the aircraft, an A319, which was waiting across the apron.
The Airbus we boarded appeared to be almost brand new, in excellent condition, spanking clean and with little TV screens and all those little extras that you sometimes get and sometimes don't. The crew were friendly and greeted us with a smile, which considering they thought they only had a job for baout 3 more days, was more than I expected.
We were served drinks as soon as the flights levelled off, and then had an Alitalia snack pack. This was a ham and cream cheese roll, youghurt and a piece of fruit cake. MAN - MXP takes about 2 hours, and on sectors of the same length with BA and AIr France to name just two, I have been served only a pastry or a (very dry and stale) sandiwch with nothing else. So here, AZ measured up very well.
The flight then passed without incident and we landed 15 minutes early at Milan. We were transported to the terminal again in a bus and had a 40 minute transfer time for our flight to Naples.
This second sector was just over an hour, and was on one of AZ's MD-82s. This was more of an old dog than a mad dog, as the aircraft did seem to have seen better days (brown and cream and orange switches and buttons like in the 70s!), but the service was again better than I expected.
On arriving at Naples, our luggage was on the conveyor within about 10 minutes and we went off to enjoy our holiday.
The trip home a week later again via Milan, was equally as satisfactory, except that the menu was the same.
So all in all, Alitalia were not nearly so bad as I had been lead to believe, and the staff were more pleasant and helpful than I would have expected given the industrial 'climate' in which I flew.
In fact, the AZ service I received was superior to that I have received on BA many times, or Air France, or even on occasion KLM.
Maybe I was very lucky, but this is just a review mainly saying, don't write them off, I had a great flight.
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Interesting to see someone who has actually had a good experience with this airline - although it would be easier if you used the actual locations rather than the airport codes.
Sue
MAFARRIMOND 20.09.2004 22:08
Sounds a good service. Maureen
sophs76 20.09.2004 12:41
Thanks for the review - glad you had a good trip! Sophs xx
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Sep 20th, 2004
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