This will be just a brief review, but I want to point out what service is like on shorthaul Alitalia flights in business class.
I arrived quite early into Madrid and found the Alitalia check-in counter was closed. Unfortunately, I also received an error when trying to check-in online. It meant I had to sit around in a café for more than two hours before finally obtaining a boarding pass.
Check-in was efficient. While the economy class line was 50-people long, I had no wait for business class check-in. An agent addressed me in Spanish but instantly switched to English when I handed her my U.S. passport. She directed me to the Puerta del Sol Lounge.
> Read More: Puerta del Sol Lounge Madrid (MAD) Review
Boarding began 30 minutes prior to departure. I was in the middle of a phone call so was late to the gate to board and among the last passengers onboard.
Alitalia 61
Madrid (MAD) – Rome (FCO)
Thursday, August 24
Depart: 11:25AM
Arrive: 1:55PM
Duration: 2hr,30min
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 1A (Business Class)
Business Class on Alitalia is like most European carriers, a regular economy class seat with the middle blocked. A center console provided a second tray table and the armrests were adjustable.
FAs were quite friendly and dressed in Alitalia’s chic uniforms. Pre-Departure beverages were offered.
We pushed back a few minutes early and were in the air by 11:30AM. The captain welcomed us onboard in both Italian and English, mentioning we would land about 20 minutes early in Rome.
Although it wasn’t exactly a short flight like Rome to Milan, FAs sprang to action quickly and within minutes of hitting cruise altitude my meal was served:
Lunch was lasagna and no choice was given. Sides include a green salad, bread, and cake.
The lasagna was exceptional for an airline meal.
One fairly friendly FA insisted I try some limoncello for dessert, an Italian liqueur. I wish I had not…
The coffee wasn’t bad though.
There is no IFE, in-seat power, or internet onboard the Alitalia shorthaul fleets. FAs did not make an appearance after the initial service unless prompted by the FA call button.
Lavatories remained clean, as I used it just before landing:
CONCLUSION
While nothing special, Alitalia offers a reasonable intra-European business class product with good onboard meals.
Limoncello and grapa…two memories of Italy I wish I could erase from my mind…
Maybe learn how to spell grappa before showing your lack of taste and food knowledge while simultaneously criticising the two undisputed best liqueurs in the world, Meosh from India and America.
Matthew an honest feedback, I normally never notice mistakes in texts but I do quite frequently in yours. I saw several other comments like this before here. I do really enjoy your reviews but maybe a bit more careful proofreading would not hurt 🙂
“One fairly friendly FA instead I try some limoncello for dessert”
They served the meal quickly because the flight attendants wanted to disappear and not work for the duration of the flight. Was there any wine?
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