Yesterday, a package from ITA Airways arrived at my home that I was not expecting. I was pleasantly surprised with the contents.
A Package From ITA Airways Arrived In The Mail Yesterday
A few months ago I did a status match to ITA Volare, the new loyalty program for ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia. Thanks to my 1K status with United and American Airlines Executive Platinum status (at the time), I was matched to ITA Volare Executive, the top elite tier. That includes:
- additional baggage allowance
- free checked golf equipment
- lounge access
- food and drinks free of charge onboard
- dedicated reception
When it comes to premium-cabin redemptions, the program is rubbish. But in terms of securing lounge access when traveling on a SkyTeam carrier, I felt it was worth the time.
Yesterday, a package arrived in the mail from ITA Airways.
I opened it and found a black box inside.
Peeling the wrapping away was a box with a lid that flipped open and said “born to fly.”
It was my membership card along with a welcome note.
Under it was a nice Italian-leather luggage tag bearing the ITA Airways logo.
A nice gift, which brought back memories of the way things used to be. United Airlines did not send me a new physical card or elite status welcome kit this year nor did American Airlines.
Will it make me more likely to fly ITA Airways? No, it won’t…though I do hope to review the new ITA Airways Airbus A350-900 later this year. At this time, however, the carrier is not releasing any award space to it’s SkyTeam partners and as I mentioned, it’s own redemptions are terrible (195,000 for a one-way intercontinental business class ticket…no thank you).
CONCLUSION
Alitalia sent me a welcome package about three months after I status matched to Volare Executive. With new service between Rome and Los Angeles soon starting up, I hope to try the new Italian flag carrier sooner rather than later. But I do have to wonder how the carrier can afford to send such nice packages to its members, including a beautiful leather luggage tag.
Still better than Delta’s rates!
I did the status match too but haven’t received anything. Do you think everyone will or just you based on your blog?
I can’t imagine ITA Airways is aware of my blog. Did you match to the highest status level?
I got one this week too for the highest status level, but definitely don’t have a blog!
Yes. I am a UA 1K. I live in the UK but that shouldn’t matter. Maybe our mail is just slower.
Is the D. Trump video at the end of this article “purely accidental “ or just a complementary pain for whoever bumps in this article on Apple News? Bad choice to promo
Sorry, not sure what you mean? A Donald Trump ad came on?
Received ours few days ago
ITA isn’t making any award availability to SkyTeam, and they’re also not honoring any reciprocal SkyTeam perks/mileage earning. They really are SkyTeam in name only.
I recently received an AmEx Platinum card packaged the same way, an absolute ecological disaster. No wonders why we’re hastening the transformation of our lovely vibrant green planet to an ugly festering dying mass of debris and waste void of any significant life.
They should have included Pajamas that, “Were Hand Selected By Our Pilots for Inflight Napping”
Looks great!
I also matched with them to their highest Staus but they never switched me from base member to highest status.
Not sure how to escalate it…
Any ideas? I’d appreciate everyone’s help!
Thank you.
Send them an email.
specialassistance@itaspa.com
Does ITA currently offer Delta award availability? You have to wonder if the feeling was mutual. SkyTeam appears to be imploding from within between ITA looking at LH/Star and Aeroflot being shown the door “temporarily”. Czech barely exists anymore. At least there’s still around 4 useful carriers left.
Delta plus Air France, and KLM (to a lesser extent) are stingy with partner award space, but it is available on some days.
You called them Alitalia in the last section. Lol
It’s alright. With the inept SkyTeam integration, pilots falling asleep, and spending money they don’t have on things like this, it’s only a matter of time before they get bought out or meet the same fate.
P.S.: I matched my AA EXP to them 6 months ago and never received a welcome package. That’s alITAlia.
I did not received it yet!
About how they can afford it…. It Is simply italian tax payer money
Anyone got it who’s not at the highest tier? I matched to Club Premium, the second highest. And by the way, not sure that’s super fair, considering I matched from Flying Blue Platinum, the top tier of a program that only has three tiers (as I believe is true of most European airlines).
Wish Flying Blue would offer a status match up to Plat. Would be great to fly in La Premiere again!
Not yet been lucky enough to fly in La Première, but AF intl business is so great already!
Got mine today!