Fiumicino, currently no lounge for passengers on ITA Airways' Schengen and domestic flights
ITA Airways has provided automatic compensation for all elite passengers enrolled in the Volare program
ITA Airways
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Last May 19 is was inaugurated at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Leonardo da Vinci Pier A, a boarding area designated for Schengen and domestic flights. Italy's main airport has therefore returned to its classic configuration the one with Terminal 1 (Pier A) dedicated to domestic and Schengen flights, and Terminal 3 (Pier E) dedicated exclusively to international non-Schengen and intercontinental flights.
No more ITA Airways lounges
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In these months ITA Airways passengers were able to enjoy the Piazza di Spagna lounge, since all flights used to depart from Pier E. Now, however, this lounge remains available only to holders of a direct ticket to an ITA Airways non-Schengen flight (e.g. intercontinental, London, and destinations such as Tel Aviv, Tirana, and a few others).
While Alitalia had as many as two lounges available in Terminal 1, today ITA has no lounges available in this area of the Roman airport.
One of the two Former Casa Alitalia lounge, the smallest, was located inside Terminal 1 and was mainly used by passengers in transit at Fiumicino.
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The second, larger one was in the public area of the airport, near the check-in counters in Terminal 1, and was used by passengers departing Rome on a domestic flight or, as mentioned, to a Schengen destination.
In partial compensation for the inconvenience of no longer having access to the lounge, ITA Airways has provided automatic compensation for all elite passengers enrolled in the Volare program.
ITA Airways sent a communication to all members of the Volare loyalty program saying:
The new Pier A does not currently have any airline lounges, but we are working to be able to accommodate you in a dedicated space soon.
Actually, however, there are two lounges operating in Terminal 1.: the First Sight and the Star Alliance lounge. The first is accessible to passengers holding Priority Pass, Lounge Key and is also used by some airlines. The second one, on the other hand, is dedicated to passengers departing on flights of partner airlines Of the Star Alliance.
Flying Points for Discomfort
Appreciable that ITA Airways has decided to compensate for inconvenience to those enrolled in the Volare program. As done by other companies, e.g. Etihad, the Italian carrier will automatically recognize all passengers entitled to access the lounge the 15% of points more than those scheduled to fly until June 2.
Want to be informed about the Volare program and discuss with other members? Join our dedicated FB group.
The decision to activate this promotion for a little more than 2 weeks gives hope that ITA Airways is either ready to open a lounge in Pier A, or that an agreement is on the way to allow its passengers access to one of the two active lounges in the terminal.
Of course, the 15% of the bonus points for short to medium haul flights is not a large number of points, but it is already a sign of care for passengers. I only have one doubt: reading the terms and conditions, a passenger enrolled in Volare with a basic level who travels with one Superior class ticket and who is therefore eligible for the lounge, will he receive the bonus points? It would appear not.
Terms and conditions
- Bonus points will be awarded to all Premium and Executive members who take flights departing from Rome Fiumicino until June 2, 2022 to domestic or Schengen area destinations
- Starting July 31, Volare bonus points will be credited to the personal account of the member who made the flights mentioned in the previous point
- Bonus points are considered non-qualifying
- In the event that a member does not see bonus points credited to his or her Volare account, he or she may request them by using the retro-credit section in his or her personal area, within the timeframe specified in the Volare rules.
- To learn more about Volare please see the regulations.
