Virgin Australia is spreading its Italian wings with 11 more codeshare flights out of Alitalia's Rome hub.
Bari, Bologna, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Lamezia Terme, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Turin and Venice join Virgin's codeshare schedule with the Italian flag-carrier, with connecting flights from Abu Dhabi to Rome (or you can just fly from Abu Dhabi to Milan).
The flights all attract Velocity points and status credits, with lounge access, priority service and increased baggage allowances for Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members.
Read more: Virgin Australia kicks off frequent flyer partnership with Italy's Alitalia
Virgin Australia’s three services each week between Sydney and Abu Dhabi now sport an upgraded Boeing 777-300ER jet boasting the latest business class seats...
and inflight bar.
From Abu Dhabi, passengers will board either an Alitalia Airbus A330 or Boeing 777-200 to Italy, both of which offer business class travellers fully-flat beds with direct aisle access from every 'Magnifica Class' seat.
Couples travelling together aren’t forgotten either with the centre pairs of seats in every second row allowing for easy conversation…
… but with a privacy divider that can be raised if you find yourself here on your lonesome.
Booking your Italian getaway with Velocity points
Velocity members can also use their points to book reward flights with Alitalia.
The number of points needed is generously the same as for Virgin Australia flights of the same distance, with Abu Dhabi-Rome setting you back 49,500 Velocity points in business class, one-way.
This makes Alitalia an attractive reward option in conjunction with a Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, avoiding the new fee levied on Etihad Airways reward bookings and the higher number of points needed for the same.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 997
I used Alitalia back in July Rome to Malta. I had to prove to the Alitalia staff Virgin and Alitalia were partners (via a screenshot I had on dropbox) but i then got all the perks of platinum status. Rome is a great place to cruise into the European time zone.
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
They really should have a code-shared flight with Etihad from Perth, onwards to Abu Dhabi and then Rome... but they don't!
01 Jul 2016
Total posts 3
I'd love to see VA codes on some Alitalia European inter-capital flights. And on some Air Berlin for that matter. Rome to London City anyone?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia extends Alitalia codeshare network