So ITA Airways is finally in Star Alliance. Cue the confetti? Maybe, but only if you’re the type who gets excited about airline alliances. Let’s break this down like we’re splitting a pizza in Rome — worth it for some, irrelevant for others.
Why This Matters (Or Doesn’t)
For Star Alliance elites, this is a minor win. Now you can use your United Premier status or ANA Gold benefits to skip the lines and lounge around on ITA flights. But let’s be real: if you’re not flying to/from Italy regularly, this probably doesn’t change your life. It’s like gaining access to a new coffee shop in an airport you rarely visit.
Points Purge Alert: Burn Those Volare Balances
ITA’s old Volare program is being phased out faster than a gelato on a Roman summer day. Any remaining points expire December 31, 2026 — barely enough time to book a weekend in Milan. If you’ve got lingering balances, treat this like a pizza coupon expiring tomorrow. Use it or lose it.
Lufthansa’s Shadow Looms Large
With Lufthansa Group holding 41% ownership (a stake acquired in January 2025), ITA’s integration into Miles&More was inevitable. Oh, and ITA had been part of SkyTeam since late 2021 but exited the alliance like a reality show contestant leaving before the final rose ceremony. This isn’t a bad thing — Miles&More is a solid program for European redemptions. But if you were hoping for a SkyTeam revival (like some of us who miss those Alitalia days), you’re out of luck. SkyTeam is now officially ITA’s ex-boyfriend.
Practical Takeaway
- Elites: Update your profile to ensure status is recognized on ITA bookings.
- Miles Hoarders: Transfer or redeem Volare points before they vanish like a Roman ghost tour.
- Everyone Else: This won’t make your coffee cheaper, but it might save you from a cramped economy seat if you’ve got status.
Bottom line: ITA joining Star Alliance is a textbook example of corporate synergy doing what it does best — making accountants happy and frequent flyers mildly intrigued. Unless you’re flying transatlantic from Rome anytime soon, this won’t revolutionize your travel strategy. But hey, more options are rarely a bad thing.