Are you considering ITA Airways (ex Alitalia) for your next trip but don’t know if Premium Economy and Business classes are worth it? Here, you can find our experience on Tokyo-Rome and Rome-Tokyo flights, respectively, in September and October 2024.

Table of contents:
First impressions
Seats
Food
Amenities and Entertainment
Drawbacks
Prices
Conclusion

Our flights were as follows: 

Tokyo – Rome
12:25 Tokyo International Haneda (HND) – 20:10 Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
Total duration: 15h 5min 
Flight number AZ 793
AIRBUS A350-900

Rome – Tokyo
15:05 Rome Fiumicino (FCO) – 11:20 (+1 day) Tokyo International Haneda (HND)
Total duration: 12h 15min
Flight number AZ 792
AIRBUS A350-900

First impressions

The design of the long-haul plane is impressive, and ITA Airways really focused on the made-in-Italy feeling, not only with the typical elegant but simple lines of seats but also with the cutlery and the brands used. Even the staff wore fashionable uniforms.

The flight was comfortable, and although some minor issues occurred, the flight attendants were kind and available to help. Personnel exchanged a few jokes with passengers in a friendly way. We were not used to it in Japan anymore, where professionalism comes first: kindness is top-level, but always keeping a highly respectful attitude.

Seats 

When you enter the plane, you feel the design has something special. We were impressed to learn that the mind behind it was that of the famous designer, Walter De Silva. He was inspired by the pantheon in Rome and Italian nature colors like sand, sea, and travertine marble.

Premium Economy consists of a separate cabin section divided by curtains between Economy and Business. It has 17 seats that recline to around 120° and offers up to 40% more legroom than Economy. If you choose the first-line seat, with an additional fare you have space to stand up a little and stretch. 

On the seat, we found a blanket, a pillow, earphones, and a bottle of water on the side, which was useful, especially at night.

With this ticket, you can also enjoy Skypriority services, except Fast Track, when passing through security checks.

Business, on the other hand, has sleeping pods, so you are separate from your travel companion. However, you can lay down completely at 180° on the soft leather armchairs and have direct access to the corridor. 

On the seat, we found a duvet blanket, a pillow, earphones, slippers, and a bottle of water on the side.

With the ticket, you have a higher luggage allowance and access to all Skypriority services, including private check-in desks, dedicated security gates, and the lounge. 

Other perks include the first disembarkation and priority luggage delivery upon arrival.

Food

You can enjoy Italian and Japanese food on the flight. Great effort is put into using Italian products and cutlery, making it an all-around Italian experience.

Premium economy: While waiting for departure, they served us a welcome drink, from which we could choose between water, orange juice, or Spumante (Prosecco).

During the flight, we first received a warm meal. We could choose between Italian pasta or Japanese fish. It came with crackers, butter, a salad to mix with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and dessert, plus a Ferrero Rocher.

Next, as a light meal, we got a tray with a sandwich, panzerotti, biscuits, cereal bar, mixed nuts, and a tart—a sort of mix of Italian and Japanese treats.

A second snack was also provided, choosing between a sandwich and an onigiri.

Business: the welcome drink was the same as in Premium Economy, but the cups were made of glass, and a nuts plate accompanied the wine. Moreover, at the beginning and end of the flight, ITA Airways staff also offered a warm hand towel.

The food menu was much more elaborate. The chefs behind the choices are the 3-Michelin-star Norbert Niederkofler from Trentino Alto Adige and his Executive Chef Mauro Siega. Note that this menu changes over time; check here for this and more recent versions.

The Chef’s proposals included an appetiser of turnips and goat, Tyrolean-style mountain carbonara, and a vegetarian mushroom goulash with grilled canederli. As dessert, a pink Enrosadira, whose colouring recalls the pink sunsets over the Dolomites. There was a second option, and we mixed both suggested and the alternative menu.

To finish, you can choose between a limoncello sip or a cup of 100% Arabica Lavazza. 

Plates and cutlery were by the Ginori 1735 Italian porcelain design company.

An intermediate snack is served at any time with a large choice, I personally went for the fruits plate and tea option.

Breakfast was also abundant and felt truly Italian. As we were on a plane, the bread was not fresh straight from the bakery oven, but it was tasty and had a good texture.

Drinks and beverages are available all flight long, and a separate wine list and food menu are provided.

Special meals

If you need a special meal, you can request it when purchasing the ticket or up to 24 hours before departure. There are three categories: medical-dietary meals, religious meals, and children’s meals.

Amenities and Entertainment

Premium economy The personal screen was around 10,5”. During the flight, you can choose between Italian and international movies, and there is a library of games, music, and TV programs.

You can see what is on screen now at the ITA Aiways website.

Business Screen was bigger, at 17”. A welcome kit included: eye mask, earplugs, a pair of soft socks, bamboo toothbrush and Marvis toothpaste. 
A cosmetics bag by wellness company QC Terme contained: exfoliating shower gel, shampoo, hand sanitizer, face cream, body cream, and hand butter.

The business class ticket included lounge access, so we could eat and rest before the flight at the ITA Airways Piazza di Spagna lounge.

Drawbacks

To be complete and illustrate the whole experience, we encountered some minor issues:

Around midnight the day before, we received an email alarming us about a delay, but it was only 45 minutes. As the flight was in the morning, we didn’t change our schedule.

As we arrived at the check-in area, we learned that Business class was overbooked. A notice asked if some customers wanted to volunteer to change the flight with a compensation of around 500 euros. We don’t know whether the business class flyers were also informed before.

There was a very long queue to check in for economy class, maybe related to the slowdown due to the business class issue, we thought. Fortunately, we were in premium economy for this time, we had priority check-in, so it was very quick and we were personally not affected.

Once we boarded, one of our screens did not work. The flight attendant kindly warned us before departure, but there was nothing he could do about it. Fortunately, we had an iPad with downloaded movies. We asked for compensation once we came back, and we received the equivalent of 100 euros back to spend within the company.

We have to say that the beginning of the trip was not reassuring, but after that, everything went smoothly, and we enjoyed both flights.

Prices 

So what is the price for all the comforts of Premium Economy class and Business class of ITA Airways? It is difficult to give a number, as prices change widely depending on the season and how before you buy the tickets. However, for reference, a round ticket from Tokyo to Rome for one person, purchased in October 2024 for July 2025, is as follows:

Economy 1450 euro

Premium Economy 1919 euro

Business 4200 euro

Conclusion

Premium economy was very comfortable, and I could personally rest very well. We bought the business class seats thanks to points, and it was pleasant in innumerable ways. We would say that the choice mainly depends on the budget, health/age issues, trip purposes, whether you fly with kids and your standards. 

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