Wednesday newsletters all the time function a lodge or flight assessment.
I just lately loved an unbelievable vacation on the three 4 Seasons Resorts within the Maldives. You may learn my journey reviews right here:
- Evaluate: ITA Airways Airbus A330neo Enterprise Class from Rome to the Maldives (right now)
- Evaluate: 4 Seasons Maldives Resort at Kuda Huraa
- Evaluate: 4 Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
- Evaluate: 4 Seasons Maldives Non-public Island at Voavah
- Evaluate: ITA Airways Airbus A330neo Enterprise Class from the Maldives to Rome
As we speak: Evaluate – ITA Airways A330neo Enterprise Class (Rome to Maldives)
After I booked my journey to the Maldives, I knew I wished the journey to be a part of the expertise—not simply the vacation spot. So I made a decision to fly Enterprise Class with ITA Airways on their brand-new Airbus A330neo from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Malé (MLE). I’d heard blended issues about ITA Airways because it changed Alitalia, however I used to be curious to see how their long-haul Enterprise Class stacked up—particularly on certainly one of their most premium routes.
For these unfamiliar, ITA Airways is Italy’s new flagship provider, stepping in after Alitalia’s lengthy historical past. Launched in 2021, ITA goals to redefine Italian air journey with a deal with fashionable plane, enhanced service, and an emphasis on Italy’s famend model and hospitality. They function a younger fleet together with the Airbus A330neo and A350 for long-haul flights, providing an up to date and extra comfy expertise for enterprise vacationers.
On this publish, I’ll take you thru each a part of the journey: from the design of the lie-flat seat, the inflight eating (sure, there’s pasta), and the general vibe onboard this modern new plane. If you happen to’re contemplating ITA Airways for a luxurious getaway—or simply desire a peek inside their A330neo Enterprise Class cabin—this sincere assessment is for you.
Have you ever ever flown with ITA Airways? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.
- Journey: Rome (FCO) to Male (MLE)
- Airline: ITA Airways
- Plane sort: Airbus A330neo
- Plane registration quantity: EI-HJR (named Gianmarco Pozzecco)
- On time departure: Sure (10 pm)
- On time arrival: Sure (10:30 am)
- Miles: 4560 miles (9120 km)
- Flight time: 9 hours and half-hour
- Seat: 6A
- Class: Enterprise Class
On this assessment (extra info & photographs under my Youtube clip & slideshow):
- Value of my ticket
- ITA Airways lounge at Rome Airport
- Enterprise Class cabin
- Enterprise Class seat (+ greatest & worst seats)
- Facilities & bedding
- Meals
- Leisure
- Onboard web
- Different inflight experiences
- My verdict (rating)
1. COST OF MY TICKET
I paid €2,200 for a return Enterprise Class ticket from Brussels to the Maldives through Rome, booked instantly on the ITA Airways web site with a promotional provide.
2. ITA AIRWAYS LOUNGE AT ROME AIRPORT
The ITA Airways Piazza di Spagna Lounge is the airline’s flagship lounge, positioned in Terminal E at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The Enterprise Class lounge is located within the non-Schengen space close to gates E11 to E24, making it simply accessible for passengers departing on worldwide or long-haul flights.
The lounge is open day by day from 6:00 AM till 11:00 PM. Entry is complimentary for passengers touring in ITA Airways Enterprise Class, in addition to for Volare Premium and Govt members. Passengers flying in Enterprise Class on one of many Lufthansa Group airways—Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airways, or Brussels Airways—are additionally entitled to complimentary entry. For individuals who don’t meet these standards, paid entry is obtainable; Youngsters underneath the age of two can enter freed from cost.
Upon getting into the lounge, one is greeted by a trendy and spacious atmosphere. The general design is fashionable and stylish, that includes traditional Italian touches akin to ceramics by Bitossi and superb tableware by Richard Ginori. The house presents a complete of 283 seats, organized in a number of distinct zones to swimsuit totally different wants:
- On the coronary heart of the lounge is an oblong house that serves as a central café space. This part options café-style tables and high-top seating, ideally suited for informal eating or working with a espresso.
- Round this central house, the lounge presents a wide range of seating preparations, together with comfy armchairs, eating tables with upholstered chairs, and semi-private areas for vacationers searching for a quieter ambiance.
One noticeable disadvantage of the lounge is its lack of pure mild. The home windows look out onto inside airport corridors quite than the tarmac, and in consequence, the lounge has no direct views of the surface or incoming plane. This could make the house really feel a bit closed in, notably throughout longer stays.
Nonetheless, the culinary choices greater than make up for this. The buffet is likely one of the lounge’s strongest options, providing a wide range of high-quality Italian delicacies. Relying on the time of day, the choice ranges from contemporary pastries and fruit within the morning to pasta, salads, chilly cuts, and desserts all through the afternoon and night. Most notably, the lounge options an open kitchen with a totally operational dwell pizza oven. Right here, cooks put together freshly baked pizza to order, including an interactive and genuine contact to the eating expertise that units this lounge other than many others.
The lounge can also be geared up with numerous helpful facilities. These embrace complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, a digital newsstand providing entry to over 7,000 worldwide newspapers and magazines, and bathe services for passengers who need to clean up. There’s additionally a devoted household room for vacationers with youngsters, in addition to a personal VIP space reserved for Volare Govt members.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
ITA Airways A330neo plane incorporates a 30-seat Enterprise Class cabin, organized in a 1-2-1 configuration, guaranteeing that each passenger has direct aisle entry—a should for long-haul consolation and privateness. This configuration effectively makes use of house by staggering the seats in every row, in order that the footwell for one seat is to the aspect of the seat in entrance. The considerate seat staggering – with non-public choices for solo vacationers and paired configurations for pairs – makes this cabin extremely versatile:
- Seats alongside the home windows alternate between “true” window seats (that are positioned nearer to the fuselage) and aisle-adjacent seats (set barely nearer to the aisle with a wider aspect desk going through the window). The true window seats—positioned in even-numbered rows—are extra non-public and extremely sought-after, ideally suited for solo vacationers preferring scenic views and a cocoon-like really feel.
- Within the middle part, seats are organized in paired configurations, designed with {couples} or touring companions in thoughts. These paired seats share a central divider, which could be lowered or raised for privateness.
- Notably, Row 8 on the rear of the Enterprise Class cabin incorporates solely two seats—one on either side of the aisle (8A and 8K)—quite than the total four-seat row. These seats provide additional privateness and are sometimes thought-about a “mini-cabin” of their very own resulting from their separation from the primary Enterprise Class zone. They’re a superb alternative for passengers searching for a quieter, extra secluded house.
Stepping aboard the ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo, the very first thing that stands out is the meticulously designed Enterprise Class cabin. Embracing magnificence, practicality, and understated sophistication, the cabin inside was designed in collaboration with the famend Italian design studio Walter De Silva & Companions, identified for his or her work with luxurious automotive manufacturers akin to Audi, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
ITA Airways’ Enterprise Class seat on the Airbus A330neo is constructed on the trusted Thompson Vantage XL platform, additionally utilized by main airways like Delta, Qantas, and SWISS. However ITA brings its personal distinctly Italian aptitude, because of elegant customization, premium supplies, and considerate design particulars. The seat is upholstered in mushy, dove gray Italian leather-based and measures roughly 21 inches (53 cm) extensive. It presents medium-firm cushioning that’s supportive for each sitting and sleeping. Padded, adjustable headrests and armrests additional improve consolation all through the flight.
Every seat incorporates a 17-inch high-definition display for inflight leisure, together with a spacious footwell for stretching out throughout long-haul journeys. A built-in coat hanger beside the display presents a handy spot for a jacket or blazer. Storage is dealt with well with a aspect cupboard, excellent for conserving necessities like a cellphone, pockets, or glasses shut at hand. A contemporary ambient mild constructed into the cupboard provides a contact of favor and makes nighttime use straightforward with out being disruptive. Beneath it, a aspect desk contains the leisure handset and an intuitive seat management panel, permitting for simple changes.
The tray desk is easily launched utilizing a easy latch and is adjustable, so you possibly can slide it ahead or backward. This sensible design helps you to get out and in of your seat even whereas meals are being served, making the house extra versatile and cozy.
When it’s time to relaxation, the seat converts into a totally flat mattress measuring 80 inches (203 cm) in size. Whereas the mattress presents sufficient room, ITA Airways doesn’t present a mattress pad, which may make the floor really feel a bit of agency for some vacationers. Gentle bedding is offered, however these delicate to firmer sleeping surfaces could discover it much less comfy than different top-tier carriers.
What are the greatest Enterprise Class seats on ITA Airways’ Airbus A330-900neo?
- Solo vacationers ought to go for window seats in rows 2A, 4A, 6A, and 8A. These seats are positioned nearer to the home windows, providing enhanced privateness and a extra secluded really feel in comparison with these nearer to the aisle.
- {Couples} or Touring Companions ought to consider the paired center seats, facilitating simpler dialog and a extra intimate setting.
What are the worst Enterprise Class seats on ITA Airways’ Airbus A330-900neo?
- Seats within the first row are close to the galley and expertise extra foot visitors, resulting in potential disturbances through the flight.
- The ‘window seats’ within the odd numbered rows are nearer to the aisle and provide much less privateness in comparison with their counterparts in even numbered rows.
Click on right here for a seat map of the ITA Airways Airbus A330neo Enterprise Class cabin.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
Enterprise Class passengers flying long-haul with ITA Airways take pleasure in a curated collection of premium facilities designed for consolation and well-being:
- Amenity Package: Introduced in a sublime, sustainable canvas clutch, the equipment contains a watch masks, earplugs, mushy socks, and a dental set that includes a bamboo toothbrush and Marvis toothpaste.
- QC Terme Wellness Bag: A mushy beauty pouch by famend wellness model QC Terme, containing:
- Exfoliating bathe gel (appropriate for all pores and skin sorts)
- Light, balancing shampoo
- Delicate hand sanitizer
- Hydrating face cream
- Wealthy moisturizing physique cream
- Intensive hand butter for deep hydration and pores and skin restore
- Sleep Consolation: A lightweight pillow, a trendy cover and slippers are offered—although be aware, there’s no mattress topper.
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Excessive-quality headphones are included to boost your inflight leisure expertise.
6. MEALS
Through the 9-hour and 30-minute flight from the Maldives to Rome, ITA Airways provided a four-course dinner after takeoff and a lightweight breakfast prior too touchdown. The dinner stood out not just for its high quality but in addition as a result of the Enterprise Class menu was designed by Michelin-starred chef Davide Oldani, proprietor of the acclaimed D’O Restaurant. His fashionable interpretation of Italian delicacies introduced a contact of superb eating to the sky.
Right here’s what I chosen from the dinner menu:
- Starter: Stuffed zucchini stuffed with tuna sauce, raisins, pine nuts, and amaretti biscuits.
- Pasta course: Cannelloni with a gratinated legume ragout, mushy lettuce cream, and almonds.
- Essential course: Herb-crusted snapper served with celery root purée and crispy aggretti greens.
- Dessert: Creamy ricotta with basil-scented strawberries and candy yellow flour breadcrumbs.
The presentation and taste of the dishes have been glorious, and the addition of a devoted pasta course—a fourth dish—is a considerate nod to Italy’s multi-course eating custom. It additionally clearly units ITA Airways other than the extra restricted choices on many different carriers in Enterprise Class. That mentioned, the service was slower than ideally suited. The primary course wasn’t served till practically an hour after takeoff, which felt fairly delayed, particularly given the late departure time (round 10 p.m.).
Breakfast, served about 90 minutes earlier than touchdown, was extra modest and fewer spectacular. It included orange and pineapple juice, yogurt, a bakery choice, and a seasonal fruit plate—all served on a single tray. Whereas enough, it didn’t fairly dwell as much as the excessive normal set by the dinner.
7. INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Every Enterprise Class seat comes with a 17‑inch 4K touchscreen monitor—elegant, low-glare, and responsive, with the added choice of a handheld controller for flexibility. The leisure library is substantial, providing round 372 hours of video content material—over 175 movies and greater than 20 TV sequence—in addition to curated music playlists and even video games to maintain you occupied. An interactive 3D shifting map function permits passengers to zoom and toggle views of the journey throughout continents. For audio, Bluetooth pairing means passengers can ditch the airline-issued headphones and join their very own for a top-tier listening expertise.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
Enterprise Class passengers profit from limitless free messaging — a considerate contact which means you need to use apps like WhatsApp or iMessage all through the flight. Past that, there are a number of fairly priced plans: a two‑hour cross for $19 USD ideally suited for searching and emails, and a full‑flight 1500 MB cross ($33 USD) appropriate for mild searching, although streaming could pressure the allowance. The Wi‑Fi is serviceable however not lightning quick — ample for work or messaging, however noticeably sluggish for heavy streaming.
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: What actually elevated this flight was the distinctive service from the cabin crew. Each interplay felt private {and professional}. The employees addressed me by identify, checked in on the proper moments, and offered considerate suggestions for meals and wine. There was a pure heat of their strategy, attribute of true Italian hospitality.
# LAVATORY: On ITA Airways’ Airbus A330neo plane, Enterprise Class passengers have entry to a few toilets: one positioned on the entrance of the cabin, solely for Enterprise Class use, and two located on the rear, shared with Premium Financial system passengers. These toilets are practical and well-maintained, although they’re comparatively primary and lack premium facilities. Given the 30-seat Enterprise Class configuration, this supplies a ratio of 1 toilet for each 10 passengers, which is mostly thought-about enough for long-haul flights.
10. MY VERDICT
Flying with ITA Airways in Enterprise Class on the Airbus A330neo from Rome to the Maldives was a superb expertise from begin to end. The airline efficiently blends fashionable consolation, Italian model, and gourmand hospitality in a method that few European carriers handle to attain.
What I cherished concerning the flight included the superbly designed cabin, comfy seats with direct aisle entry, genuine Italian meals of restaurant high quality, elegant amenity kits, and pleasant, skilled service that felt private and real. Nonetheless, there have been a number of areas the place the expertise could possibly be improved. For instance, the bedding may gain advantage from the addition of a mattress topper to boost consolation even additional. Moreover, whereas the primary meals have been distinctive, the breakfast providing felt considerably underwhelming by comparability — a extra thoughtfully curated and substantial breakfast service would assist spherical out the premium expertise.
Right here’s my last rating of ITA Airways’ Enterprise Class on the Airbus A330neo:
- Seat consolation (upright): 8/10
- Seat consolation (mattress place): 8/10
- Privateness: 9/10
- Meals (high quality): 9/10
- Meals (amount): 9/10
- Inflight leisure : 9/10
- WiFi: 8/10
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 10/10
- Total expertise: superb: 8.6/10
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