INTRODUCTION
Hello FlightReporters!
The 9th April my father turned 70. Since he planned to celebrate his birthday the Saturday after (13rd Aprile) I decided to make him a surprise showing up at the party in Rome.
On month before I checked flights or trains from Milan, leaving on Saturday and departing back on Sunday afternoon.
Train costed around 190 euros with italo train operator. I neither check Trenitalia since usually tickets are more expensive.
I took a look at ITA Airways' website and the price was around 160 euros.
Since a dear friend of mine works as flight attendant for ITA he offered me to check for discounted flights.
He gave me two possibilities: stand-by tickets for 91 euros and confirmed tickets for 110 euros. Having to work on Monday I went for the latter without any doubt.
I choose these routes:
Saturday 13rd April, AZ2045, LIN-FCO, 11:00 - 12:10
Sunday 14th April, AZ2050, FCO-LIN, 18:00 - 19:10
ROUTING
Flight routing
- 1
- 2AZ2050 - Economy - Rome → Milan - Airbus A320
GETTING TO FIUMICINO AND CHECK-IN
Since my reservation came with a checked baggage too I decided to bring some stuff to Milan. For this reason I asked my parents to bring me at the airport a bit less than 2 hours before departure, scheduled for 18.
We left home at 15:45. Half a hour later we arrived at Rome "Leonardo da Vinci" International Airport
Terminal 1, ITA Airways' base
ITA's counter was empty and in a few minutes I was able to check my baggage and have my seat changed into a window one (the system assigned me 14D, I obtained 20A)
Than straight to the inspection area
The security inspection was a breeze, despite the crowd
The departure lounge was packed as hell
Family portrait
I see skies of blue…
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE
With one hour before scheduled boarding time I decided to give a try to Plaza Premium Lounge, located one floor above departure lounge
The entrance fee is 26 euros for one hour. I initially wanted to try ITA Airways Hangar Lounge but 60 euros was definitely too much.
I've been inside lounges in 2013 only when I visited NY. By the way at the time I still haven't started with FlightReport. So this is gonna be my "2nd first time"
The lounge, which doesn't offer an apron view, is split into two areas
Both quite full of people
The food selection is made of both hot and cold food
There's a good amount of salty food and desserts
Hot and cold beverage section
I got a few bites of desserts and some orange juice, both quite tasty
Later I also got an espresso which was very good
boarding and taxiing
I spent almost one hour inside the lounge
As boarding time approached I made my way to gate A44, located at a short distance from the lounge
ITA Airways A320 painted in "Born in 2021" livery, parked at the gate in front
Today's bird:
ITA Airways Airbus A320-200, EI-DTN
Delivered to Alitalia in March '10 (14.2 years old) and than transferred to ITA
It's equipped with 171 seats in mixed C-Y configuration. The plane is dedicated to cycling legend Fausto Coppi.
Boarding was called on time at 17:30
By an eye count the plane seemed full 100%
I love that blue fuselage
The view from my seat, 20A
Due to the fact the plane was full I was forced to put my cabin baggage in an overhead compartment 10 rows behind…
The plane really shows its age: the leather of the seats was cracked and the back panel was scratched in many points
Boarding came to its end minutes before 18:00
At 18:05 we pushed back and started the engines moments later
The plane barked really loudly
Taxiing to runway 25
Departing behind ITA A320 and Neos Boeing 737
Taking off facing the sun
the flight
At 18:18, eighteen minutes after planned, the plane started its take off run
Pier E11-24, dedicated to Extra-Schenghen traffic
Satellite E31-44
Runway 16R-34L
Fiumicino town
Climbing above the Tyrrean sea
After the departure I felt asleep
I spent almost 30 minutes napping, skipping also the drink service
I woke up as the cabin was being set for landing
River Po as we ligned up for arrival
Milan southern suburbs
San Donato Milanese, located just south of LIN
Milan skyline on sight
At 19:06, four minutes earlier than scheduled, we touched town at Milano-Linate Airport
The brake was quite short and rough
The apron was busy of ITA Airways planes
…and a couple of British Airways birds
Boetti Air Boeing 737 BBJ
That tail is amazing
Docking next to another A320, at the remote stands
A beautiful sunset and a warm weather welcoming me and this blue beauty in Milan
In a few minutes the bus reached the terminal
The baggages took a couple of minutes to appear on the belt
I was able to get my bag immediately and made my way to the metro
I grab the metro half a hour after the plane touched the ground and in less than one hour I arrived home
Less than five hours door-to-door
Than you for your attention and wish you many good flights!
26 EUR for just 1h is a bit expensive for a plaza premium lounge. Was it actually limited to 1h or was it that you just had 1h?
It's crazy that ITA still have these very old AZ cabins. The plane looks so beautiful and new on the outside and then boom...it's a trip back 20 years on the inside haha
Thanks for sharing!
It was my choice to stay 1hr since that was the time I had before boarding. Not sure if more time would have bring a bigger price.
They ask me how much I'd have stayed because it was quite busy.
Yeah, that cabin is so old.
Consider that, at first, on LIN-FCO leg I was supposed to flight on 24-year-old EI-IKU, the oldest A320 in AZ fleet
I cannot imagine how ruined should be inside, lucky I got "upgraded"
Ciao Carlo, thanks for sharing this FR. A seamless trip again on AZ. I have not been to FCO in years, is this crowding in the terminal a post-pandemic phenomenon? With the crowds in the terminal, it is likely not unexpected to find a similar situation in the lounge.
Pretty lipstick to mask what is inside. I remember these cabins from years ago, at least they finally took out the credit card swipers and tiny 4” screens. The blue livery is eye catching, I always see the bright blue A350 in the sky arriving from FCO when eating lunch.
I guess the airport is improving in terms of traffic after Covid. Moreover all my last flights were in "hot" periods in term of busyness.
Totally agree with you about the "lipstick effect", at the moment a part of the fleet still shows its age. And yeah, I remember those dull card readers :P