> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thecontrail.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # I Flew Italy's ITA Airways Business Class to Miami. It Was Beautiful and Frustrating. - URL: https://www.thecontrail.org/ita-airways-a330neo-business-class-review-rome-miami/ - Published: 2026-09-18T13:00:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T18:30:01.000Z - Description: Italy's national airline has one of the prettiest business class cabins flying and a genuinely warm crew. A dirty seat, a hard bed and uneven food kept getting in the way. - Author: Zach Benitez - Tags: Flight Review, ITA Airways ITA Airways is Italy's national airline, set up by the Italian government in 2021 after Alitalia finally shut down. Lufthansa has since bought 41% of it, and in April ITA joined Star Alliance, the airline alliance that includes United and Air Canada. I flew ITA from Rome to Miami in business class on the Airbus A330neo, a newer version of Airbus's midsize long-haul jet. I paid with United miles because the two airlines are partners, although finding an open seat took real digging. Usually I've made up my mind about a flight somewhere over the ocean. After nearly 12 hours on this one I still hadn't, because it was so good and so bad at the same time. Flight Details ### ITA Airways AZ 630 FCO Rome Fiumicino · Terminal 1 10:182m early 11h 56m · 5,175 mi MIA Miami Miami Intl · Terminal S 16:141m early Cabin Business Aircraft Airbus A330-900neo Aircraft age 2 years Registration EI-TYA Contrail The Verdict · AZ 630 Business **7.3**Overall A beautiful cabin and a genuinely warm crew, held back by an uncleaned seat, a hard bed and uneven food. Ground experience 7.0 Seat 6.5 Amenities 9.4 Catering 6.2 Service 7.6 #### What worked *✓*Warm, Attentive Cabin Crew *✓*Beautiful Cabin Design *✓*Generous Onboard Amenities #### What didn't work *✕*Cramped Business Class Lounge *✕*Overly Firm Bed *✕*Tough, Partly Inedible Pasta Contrail --- ## Getting Through Rome My frustration started before I reached the airport. On my ticket, ITA wanted extra money just to choose a seat in business class, and the fee didn't go away even at check-in. Lufthansa does something similar with Allegris, its new business class cabin, but it's an odd move for an airline trying to win over people paying for the front of the plane. At Fiumicino, Rome's main airport, the business class counters are tucked around a corner from economy, so I had to ask an agent where to go. Once I found them there was no wait, and my agent was genuinely helpful in pointing me toward the lounge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7603.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7604.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7608.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7611.JPG) ITA's main lounge in Rome is the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, named for the square below the Spanish Steps. My favorite detail was the set of blue animal sculptures at the entrance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7622-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7623.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7629.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7631.JPG) The finishes inside are nice, but the muted colors could use more of ITA's signature blue, and I was surprised the room wasn't bigger. At 8 a.m. there was only breakfast, which caught me off guard for an airline's main lounge. The pastries were fine, while the bacon was quite possibly the worst I've had, as tough as a tire. It was already crowded in January, too, before joining Star Alliance meant top-tier frequent flyers from other member airlines could start using it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7625-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7624-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7626-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7627-2.JPG) Business class passengers in zones 1 and 2 had their own clearly marked boarding line. Gate agents called each zone separately and checked boarding passes before letting anyone line up, which was a big improvement over the short ITA flight I'd taken the day before. It was still a lot of hurry up and wait, though. We got called to line up, then called again to board, and then we stood in the jet bridge before a smiling crew member welcomed me at the door. Illustrated for Contrail ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo · EI-TYA Drawn by **Caleb St. John** · Caleb's Aviation Every Contrail review carries an original drawing of the aircraft flown, made for us by Caleb St. John, who draws aircraft to raise awareness for young people in aviation living with health conditions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7633.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7635.JPG) --- ## A Stunning Cabin With a Hard Bed Seat Map Business · 1–2–1 EI-TYA A D G L 1 A D G L 2 A D G L 3 A D G L 4 A D G L 5 A D G L 6 A D G L 7 A D G L 8 A D G L Business · rows 1–8 · seat 3A Contrail This cabin is gorgeous. The blue and gray finishes, the leather and the soft colored lighting make most airline interiors look boring by comparison. There are 30 fully flat seats, one by each window and two in the middle, so everyone gets their own access to the aisle. The rows zigzag, which means window seats alternate between sitting against the wall and sitting a little closer to the aisle. I was in 3A, one of the seats closer to the aisle, and it came with a huge side table between me and the window that was big enough to work on my laptop. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7642.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7637.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7683.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7662.JPG) A sloped panel leads down into the footwell. It makes a nice leg rest but leaves no room for a bag underneath. The charging port is strong enough to power a laptop, and the seatback screen was quick and responsive. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7648-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7675.JPG) Unfortunately, the seat hadn't been cleaned. I noticed crumbs as soon as I sat down and kept finding more all the way to Miami. The cushion is also very hard. These seats have no doors, although the limited privacy bothered me less than I expected. There are no personal air vents, and the cabin ran hot the whole way. My power outlet didn't work at first either, though the crew got it running after taking meal orders. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7682.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7679.JPG) In bed mode, the hardness only gets worse. There's no mattress pad, the headrest is firm underneath and the space for your feet is tight. When I asked for a blanket to cover the crumbs, a flight attendant brought one right away, so I ended up using two blankets as my own mattress pad. Side sleepers will have an easier time than back sleepers, since the bed is reasonably wide at the shoulders. ITA says the window seats against the wall, in even-numbered rows, have more room. One more warning is that the dark blue side table is slippery, and I ended up with water in my lap during turbulence. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7774.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7778.JPG) ITA goes further than almost anyone with what's waiting at the seat. I found headphones and a pillow waiting along with slippers and a blanket, plus water, a snack and two small bags of travel goodies. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7673-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7670.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7686.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7688.JPG) The standard toiletry bag was forgettable apart from the pouch itself. The second was a wellness kit, and it was fun and unlike anything I've gotten from another airline, even if nothing in it was usable during the flight. Flight attendants handed out codes for free onboard messaging, but the full internet I paid for was painfully slow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7743.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7741.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7742.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7702.JPG) The bathrooms were a weak point. The one I used after lunch was bright and seemed new but had no toiletries. By the end of the flight the front bathroom was out of order, and the one I used was in terrible condition. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7788.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7789.JPG) --- ## Lunch, Slightly Out of Order The menu follows an Italian meal structure, with a pasta course before the main dish, although there were only two mains to choose from. Flight attendants laid a tablecloth and set the table carefully, but the salt and pepper arrived in a little bag tossed on top. The tomato starter was good yet served far too cold, and the rosemary bread was much better than the first round. Then my fish showed up before the pasta. My flight attendant caught the mistake right away and apologized more than once. The fish itself was excellent, especially the sun-dried tomato alongside it. That pasta was the letdown, since it tasted great but parts of it were so tough they were inedible. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7747.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7749.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7757-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7758.JPG) What saved lunch was the service. My flight attendant noticed both of my drinks were empty and came right back to refill them. When I asked for fruit afterward, she brought fresh utensils with it. Coffee and tea followed, and then another hot towel. The crew weren't bubbly, but they were professional and genuinely warm, and it was some of the warmest service I've had from a European airline. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7751.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7763.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7711.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7768.JPG) --- ## Sleeping Through the Second Meal With my body still on Asia time, I fell asleep after lunch. Earlier, the crew had made a point of asking whether I wanted to be woken for the second meal, and I'd said yes. Nobody woke me. I got up with 45 minutes left and realized everyone else had eaten a while ago. A flight attendant still offered me something and remembered on her own that I'd been drinking pineapple juice. I can't say whether what arrived was the real second meal or just a snack. The pizza-style dish wasn't warm or soft and tasted microwaved, which left me wondering why an Italian airline struggles so much with Italian food. To their credit, they gave me plenty of time to eat. Missing the meal didn't ruin the flight, but the crew had my permission to wake me, and it's hard to see it as anything other than being forgotten. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7794.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7795.JPG) --- ## Should You Book It? ITA has a gorgeous cabin and one of the warmest crews I've flown with in Europe, and on a better day that combination could beat plenty of its rivals across the Atlantic. On my flight, a dirty seat and a hard bed kept dragging it down, along with uneven food and a lounge that doesn't live up to being the airline's showpiece. I'd fly ITA again. Next time I'd pay for an even-numbered window seat against the wall, order the fish and skip the lounge bacon. If you need a soft bed to sleep on a long flight, though, I'd look at other airlines first.