For the next segment of my rapid trip to Paris and Cairo, I flew to the executive class of Ita Airbus A320neo in the short flight of 95 minutes in the morning from Paris (CDG) to Rome (FCO). I am a great admirer of Ita Airways, and I have had incredible experiences in the long-distance aircraft of the carrier, even in the Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A330-900neo.
So I was curious to see what the short distance product would be like. Well, I have to say it was a mixed bag. There were things that I really liked, like the super friendly team. However, for a new plane, I was surprised by the lack of Wi-Fi and energy shots, and I also thought that food could have been better … especially for an Italian airline!
How did I booked my Ita Airways Executive Class Ticket
I reserved a ticket at Ita Airways from Paris to Rome to Cairo in executive class, and paid with cash. Specifically, I reserved the following for $ 907.09 (and then I also paid $ 107 to assign the executive class seat at the connection flight):
10/10 Az317 Paris to Rome that comes out at 6:10 am arriving 8:10 am
11/10 Az896 Rome to Cairo who leaves at 12:40 pm arriving at 4:55 pm
In fact, I paid more for this ticket than I had to do it, since there was a less flexible ticket that would have been $ 200 cheaper. The reason I reserved this is because there was an Amyx offer for 17,500 bonus membership reward points when they spent $ 1,000 with the airline, and this ticket plus the seat allocation rate triggered it.
I accredited this itinerary to Air France-Klm Flying Blue, and helped me qualify for the platinum state (although Ita Airways is now being left Skyteam and joining Star Alliance).
Ita Airways Business Class Lounge & Boarding
It had spent the night at the Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, given my flight departure at 6:10 am. My Ita Airways flight left the 2D terminal, and I arrived there around 5 in the morning. He had already registered online, and security was super fast and took only five minutes.
In general, Iita Airways executive passengers would have access to the extinguish room. However, unfortunately the living room only opens at 6 am, so it was useless for this flight. So I went directly to the door: my flight left D50, with a shipment scheduled for 5:30 am, 40 minutes before the exit.
Indeed, the shipment began just in time. The Italians give the Americans a race for their money when it comes to croking the area of the door and converting the shipping chaos into a sport, although the door agents did a good job by enforcing the boarding order.
Ita Airways A320neo cabin and executive class seats
At the door, I received the super friendly crew. I took my eyes for a second to adjust, because the lighting of mood in the cabin was extreme (so my apologies for the images, because the lighting made photography difficult).
The flying plane was an Airbus A320neo of less than two years with the Ei-in registration code. The plane is configured with 180 seats, distributed in 30 rows, in a 3-3 configuration.
As is standard on intra-European flights, the size of the executive class cabin will be adjusted with each flight, simply moving the curtain forward or backward. The executive class consists of economic seats with blocked media and more service. On this flight, there were a total of four rows of executive class and only four passengers in the cabin.
The leg space was not great, but it is not the worst one. I would estimate that Pitch was somewhere around 30 ″. I was assigned to seat 4a, the window seat on the left side in the last executive class row.
The seats were as basic as they come: the tray tables were even a little smaller than you will find in other airlines.
To my surprise, there were no ports of power. One would think that the airline would be installing those on newly delivered airplanes, so I wonder what exactly happened there. Does this have something to do with Ita Airways that has partially collected the airplanes destined for other airlines, or …?
On the positive side, I was glad to see that the aerial consoles had individual air nozzles, in addition to reading lights.
I also appreciated that the plane had the new Airbus Airbus larger air containers, so that all luggage could easily accommodate (then again, that is not a problem as big in Europe as in the United States).
So, yes, the executive class of Intra-Europe is rarely a lot to get excited, but this was especially naked, since this was basically a new plane.
Ita Airways A320neo Business Class Entertainment & Wi-Fi
I expected this ITA Airways A320neo to have Wi-Fi, but in reality it was not available. Interestingly, there was a network of “cabin-wifi”, but it did not connect, and the crew said the plane did not have Wi-Fi. There was also no transmission entertainment.
Suffice it to say that technology in this plane was not great, between the lack of power ports and the lack of Wi-Fi. Of course, that is not a big problem for such a short flight, but still, it is more and more an area where airlines compete.
Ita Airways A320neo Exit from Paris
As the shipment wrapped, the main hostess approached to offer previous drinks to the game, with the choice of water or orange juice. I chose the first, which was served quickly, with a cup. While it served me (and others) a drink, it appeared by name and said: “If you need something during the flight, I am here for you.” Very impressive on both fronts! Personal presentations and drinks prior to departure are rare on regional flights within Europe.
At 6 in the morning, the main door of the cabin closed, so it seemed that we were ready for an early exit. However, a few minutes later, the captain was in the AP to announce a delay. He explained that due to the weather, we would have a starting delay and we could only take off at 6:55 am then I hoped we were at the door for another 40 minutes, and then we would start filming.
The great service continued. A few minutes later, the main hostess asked if he could make executive passengers somewhat more drink. I asked for an espresso, which was served with some small chocolate treats.
Honestly, the kindness of the crew and general kindness exceeded my expectations. I have been on so many intra-Europe flights with soil delays where the crew does not offer any soda (and I realize that they are only following policies, so I do not blame people).
There was an additional positive update. At 6:25 am, the captain announced that our slot rose a little and that we would be backing shortly. A minute later we begin our rejection, and at 6:30 am we start our taxi. From there, it was about 10 minutes of our exit track, 8L, where we were clear for take off at 6:40 am
We had a soft climb, and the seat belt sign was turned off about five minutes after takeoff. At that time, the crew closed the curtains, both between the galley and between the executive class, and between the executive class and the economy.
Ita Airways Executive Class Skinning Service
Around 10 minutes after takeoff, the main hostess rolled a cart down the hall with a snack service. The breakfast sandwich consisted of a fruit side (pear and pineapple), a dish with two types of carbohydrates (a croissant and a ham sandwich) and a bottle of bottleted yogurt to drink. In addition to that, I had a coffee and a pear juice.
It is not that I generally get an incredible gourmet meal in flights within Europe, but I discovered that this was a bit below the average. Maybe it’s partly because not as pork, but still, you would expect a little better for an Italian airline.
This seems to be quite consistent. On long distance flights, Ita Airways has among the best foods of any airline in the executive class. However, it is a different story about short -distance flights, where I have heard many complaints.
Honestly, the best part of breakfast was the beautiful dawn that treated me while ate …
Ita Airways A320neo Executive Class Lavate
Towards the end of the flight, I checked the bathroom on the front of the cabin, reserved for the executive class. It was not pretty, but at least it was clean, and the crew did a good job by enforcing the policy that this bathroom was reserved for executive class passengers.
IA Airways Executive Class Service
The service was really what impressed me the most of this flight of Ita Airways (as I think they can say, according to what I have written previously). The main hostess could not have been more professional, and also had such a big personality. He committed to each passenger, and must have spent about 10 minutes chatting with the people in the first row, giving them advice for their trip, etc.
It was a class act. Frankly, I find that Ita Airways constantly has crews higher than average, so they are a great asset for the airline.
Ita Airways A320neo arrives in Rome
Little more than an hour after takeoff, at 7:50 am, the captain returned to the AP to announce that we would land in about 25 minutes. About 10 minutes later, the seat belt sign was lit.
The views when flying to and from Rome are incredible, so I spent the rest of the flight looking out the window …
As expected, we landed in Rome at 8:15 am
From there, we had a high speed but a fast taxi at our arrival door. It is really surprising how fast the Ita Airways fleet has grown, and I was surprised by the amount of aircraft on the floor.
We ended up arriving at our door at 8:20 am, arriving next to a Lufthansa Airbus A321. We were just 10 minutes late, despite our significantly delayed item.
When we arrived at the door, I could not help taking a photo of the A320neo in which I only flew … Ita’s free has grown a lot in me, and I really love it!
End
I had a pleasant executive class flight in the morning at the A320neo of Ita Airways. The cabin disappointed me as such, and the lack of energy and Wi-Fi ports. I also didn’t think the snack was great.
But honestly, what was most memorable for me on the flight was the service and, in particular, the exceptional main hostess. He was so kind and interacting with each passenger, even offering two sets of drinks prior to the game. At the end of the day, a great service can compensate for a mediocre product, and this is one of those situations.
What do you do with the Iita Airways’ A320neo executive class?
