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Alitalia Complaint - Cancelled Flight, Overbooking & Bumped, Lost Baggage, Sickening Bathroom Odor, Rude Staff - Airline Flight To Italy
Airline Flight To Italy - Complaint
NY- TO ROME, NEW YORK -- I booked our airline travel 6 mos. ahead to get the best price & seat availability. We were travelling to Italy to take a cruise. The cruise company called us 3 mos. before scheduled cruise to advise they chartered our reserved ship and we needed to re-schedule. Alitalia charged us $1800, to re- book scheduled flights. Then one month before our trip Alitalia called to say they were no longer offering flights from Newark on our Departure date. We had to change flights again. To leave & return to JFK. We were in no way compensated for this inconvenience of driving to a further airport. When we arrived at the airport on day of departure --they had overbooked our trans-Atlantic flight. When I insisted that we had to go-- they put us on the flight- but not seated together-- a few other passengers agreed to move so that my husband and I could sit with our daughter who is a toddler.
My son was on his own across the aisle sitting between two women who did not speak the same language.We were then bumped on the connecting flight from Milan to Rome. We were awake all night on the flight and then had to spend 5 hours in the Milan airport with exhausted children, attempting to sleep on chairs-- they did not offer us access to the Alitalia lounge. When we arrived in Rome-- we were also missing 2 pieces of luggage.My daughter's baby carrier and also her suitcase.We arrived late at our hotel because of the flight problems-- which had also overbooked-- and found we had no room there either!! We were transferred to another hotel in a questionable neighborhood with lots of graffiti on the outskirts of Rome-- then had to transfer back the next day-- we lost a day and a half of vacation time, school time & work time.We started our vacation very unpleasantly and exhausted!!
We were not compensated at all- and when we tried to discuss these problems we were yelled at and treated very rudely by Alitalia staff. I was so exhausted-- I ended up in tears. We had saved for this vacation for a year-- and I was extremely disappointed. After two days in Rome our lost baggage finally arrived at our hotel. On the way home, they seated us in the mid-section of the plane. Near the toilets. The stench was so bad it made us sick. Airline attendants did not deal with the problem and would not allow us to change seats.I used my blanket to cover my nose and mouth because the odor was so bad. Made me sick to my stomach. Overall this was a terrible experience. We were very disappointed with Alitalia.
I understand-- that with travel things happen-- but so many bad things happened at one time--- and the staff refused to do anything to improve the situation. I believe we deserve a refund.
My son was on his own across the aisle sitting between two women who did not speak the same language.We were then bumped on the connecting flight from Milan to Rome. We were awake all night on the flight and then had to spend 5 hours in the Milan airport with exhausted children, attempting to sleep on chairs-- they did not offer us access to the Alitalia lounge. When we arrived in Rome-- we were also missing 2 pieces of luggage.My daughter's baby carrier and also her suitcase.We arrived late at our hotel because of the flight problems-- which had also overbooked-- and found we had no room there either!! We were transferred to another hotel in a questionable neighborhood with lots of graffiti on the outskirts of Rome-- then had to transfer back the next day-- we lost a day and a half of vacation time, school time & work time.We started our vacation very unpleasantly and exhausted!!
We were not compensated at all- and when we tried to discuss these problems we were yelled at and treated very rudely by Alitalia staff. I was so exhausted-- I ended up in tears. We had saved for this vacation for a year-- and I was extremely disappointed. After two days in Rome our lost baggage finally arrived at our hotel. On the way home, they seated us in the mid-section of the plane. Near the toilets. The stench was so bad it made us sick. Airline attendants did not deal with the problem and would not allow us to change seats.I used my blanket to cover my nose and mouth because the odor was so bad. Made me sick to my stomach. Overall this was a terrible experience. We were very disappointed with Alitalia.
I understand-- that with travel things happen-- but so many bad things happened at one time--- and the staff refused to do anything to improve the situation. I believe we deserve a refund.
Comments:
Posted by bob65 on 2008-04-07:
This is a State Owned Airline and is Near Bankruptcy. Even the Itialians won't use the Airline. Try another Airline and Get Flight Insurance. Use a Credit Card. Better Yet Stay Home or Go to Canada.
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