[SwissExPat]

I recently needed to get to NYC at short notice for a 2.5 day trip, booking only 3 days in advance but wanted a little comfort ex ZRH.

Skyscanner threw up a few connection with Skyteam (I am BA gold and Swiss silver so not a Skyteam person) at very favourable pricing in Econ plus.

Out with Alitalia via Rome and back wihh Air France all for EUro 1150 !

Surprisingly the ZRH to FCO leg was in Business (bonus)

I researched the Alitaila Y+ product and it seemed decent by comparison (A330) and the return with AF was in a A380 (I secured an exir row)

The short leg to FCO from Zurich was a joy, with a decent hot meal on a 1820 departue and plenty of room on the 319.

As a complete surprise, at the Gate for the JFK connection I got upgraded to business (surprise since I only joined the Milemaglia programme the day before). The J product was definitely an improvement on BA Club.

ON the return 3 days later, I checken in at AF in JFK and had read I could pay to enter the AF lounge (US$50) as a Y+ PAX. This I did and as I was paying at the ticketing desk I enquired about a paid for upgrade. Agent said yes for what seemed to be a fixed fee of Euro 350. I thouht about it (I had an exit row in Y+ on the A380) and decided yes.

I have to say, on reflection the AF J [hard] product on the A380 was not very impressive. I had no privacy with it being a 2-2-2 config (would have been fine If I was travelling with a known companion) but now in J an element of privacy (even like BA J) is becoming the norm (Alitaila J had this) . The AF soft product was fine with good service despite it being a late 2150hrs JFK departure (equivalent BA departures seem to have the crew do a 45 min sint and then darken the cabin). The AF crew seemed to do 2-3 hours. I got a few hours sleep so all told the paid-for upgrade was worth doing (although I’d give it some thought in future)

So and a first Skyteam experience, I have to say I was impressed and will definitely consider this again, especially at the price.

[WillieWelsh]

Good review SwissExPat.

I used Alitalia from FRA-NRT last month and was equally surprised at how good it was. FRA-FCO in each direction offered a very good hot meal, LH offer one too but this was a notch above LH in terms of offering and quality. The longer sectors were comfortable and the service very good, the food and wines being a very strong point along with the crew who I would describe as kind and thoughtful.

The fare, booked at relatively short notice was about half of the LH fare. The cabin was about 95% full outbound and 90% full on the longhaul return. The short sectors were full in both classes.

I’ll certainly use them again

[AMcWhirter]

The issue for Alitalia is whether or not it can provide reliable service all the time.

Yet another strike is taking place today.

https://www.thelocal.it/20170405/two-in-five-alitalia-flights-are-cancelled-due-to-airline-strike?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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