Review of ITA Airways Business Class: Flight AZ213/ITY213

Booking

Booking my flight with ITA Airways, pronounced "EE-tah," was a straightforward process. I secured a tempting deal for a round trip from London City to Dubai, with a stopover in Rome, for just £1200 per person. An overnight stop was required in Rome, which I found agreeable as it allowed for a day flight to Dubai—an always-preferred option for me.

To further enhance our travel, we paid approximately £25 each to reserve our seats. This booking occurred before I status-matched my British Airways Gold to Flying Blue’s Platinum, which later allowed me to select seats on other parts of the journey for free. However, this privilege was limited to me since my travel companion didn’t have a status.

A noteworthy detail is that ITA Airways is currently navigating a transitional period; they are in the process of moving from SkyTeam to Star Alliance due to a recent acquisition by Lufthansa Group.

London City Airport

Traveling to London City Airport from Surrey was a bit of a trek, involving a 40-minute train to London Waterloo, a 15-minute Tube ride, and a 30-minute DLR journey to the airport itself. For those living in Central London, City Airport is a convenient option with an ever-expanding list of routes.

This journey marked my first experience flying out of City Airport, an endeavor I had been keen to undertake for some time.

Check-in & Security

Upon arriving at the airport, my first sight was the ITA check-in area, conveniently placed near the entrance. We opted for the Business Class/Sky Priority queue, which didn’t seem to matter as the area was unusually quiet.

Security was just as relaxed, thanks to the state-of-the-art scanners. We were able to keep our belongings in our bags, eliminating the usual pre-flight stress of unpacking and re-packing. However, on entering the terminal, we were greeted by a surprisingly bustling atmosphere; it seemed the calm outside hid a hive of activity within.

Boarding

Our flight was assigned to Gate 24, located at the far end of the terminal. As we reached the gate, we encountered a bit of disorganization; no door was open for boarding, and a large number of passengers were meandering through the narrow corridor.

Eventually, we were escorted to a holding pen near the apron, and boarding commenced. This process allowed me to enjoy the unique experience of walking along the tarmac to the aircraft—a highlight of flying from London City.

A Shocking Experience

Given that I was specifically traveling to review the flight, I arrived at the gate early intending to be one of the first to board. Thankfully, we were at the front of the queue, allowing me to take some unobstructed photos.

However, as I entered the cabin, a crew member admonished me about not taking his photo, which I hadn’t even considered. After snapping a single image of the empty cabin, I was confronted by another crew member who aggressively demanded access to my phone, pressuring me for proof that I had only taken that one photo. The situation escalated publicly, which left me feeling deeply embarrassed.

Despite my attempts to clarify that I intended to focus solely on the cabin, their reaction was overwhelmingly aggressive and disruptive.

Seat & Departure

The Airbus A220-100, featuring a 3+2 seating configuration, offered an eye-catching, stylish interior. I chose row 2 on the three-seat side to ensure the middle seat was left empty, allowing for more personal space.

ITA’s interior design has garnered mixed feelings among travelers; some love it, while others do not. I personally appreciated the modern aesthetic.

Each seat was equipped with two USB ports, allowing for easy charging during the flight. We were offered a pre-departure beverage of water or orange juice before takeoff.

Unfortunately, we departed 35 minutes late, which was a slight disappointment.

Food and Drink

Despite the relatively short duration of the flight, our meal service was limited to one option—salmon salad, mini pizza as the main, and a chocolate cake for dessert. No menu was provided, which I found unusual but understandable given the flight’s short nature.

While the starter felt a bit unappealing and the pizza was lackluster and cold, the dessert—a chocolate cake—was surprisingly delightful.

Service was generally efficient, considering the single crew member serving our section, but the drinks round began after we finished the meal, which is a pet peeve of mine.

Arrival and Bags

After what felt like a swift journey, we arrived in Rome—albeit 40 minutes late due to our previous delay. Buses awaited us at the tarmac, which allowed me to admire the sleek blue aircraft once more.

Despite having only six passengers waiting for their bags, the wait felt prolonged, taking approximately 30 minutes for our luggage to arrive.

Summary

ITA Airways offers enticing business class fares, and the A220 boasts a sleek, well-conceived cabin. However, the experience had its blemishes. There were hiccups during boarding, and the staff’s aggressive approach towards photography was shocking. Improvement is needed on the service front regarding food, lack of menus, and slow drink service. With ITA transitioning to Star Alliance, I am hopeful that the quality will enhance in the future. Would I choose ITA again? Absolutely!