Alitalia has extended its baggage-free fare to all routes between Moscow and Italy. This has led to a significant reduction in the minimum ticket price on this route, reports Travel.ru.
For example, the minimum roundtrip fare with a transfer in Rome is currently 13,618 rubles for the baggage-free Light fare to Venice, 13,345 rubles to Verona, and 15,793 rubles to Milan. The price with baggage included (Classic fare) is approximately 40 euros higher. A baggage-free fare was previously available on the Rome-Moscow route (currently, roundtrip fares start at 13,924 rubles).
It's worth noting that the airline currently offers baggage-free fares only for flights to Italy. Connecting flights via Rome to other airports are still offered with baggage only, with prices sometimes comparable—for example, 15,132 rubles to Madrid via Rome. Flights from St. Petersburg to Italy also currently offer baggage-only fares—for example, a flight to Milan with a layover in Rome starts at 15,810 rubles.
Passengers who have purchased a ticket at a baggage-free rate can only carry 8 kilograms of hand luggage (no larger than 55x35x25 centimeters) plus a briefcase, handbag or computer bag. Adding luggage to such a rate will cost 25 euros in advance on the website or 45 euros at the airport or office. Therefore, if there is a possibility that you will need luggage, it is better to immediately buy a baggage rate - especially since it also includes the ability to choose a seat on the plane and, if necessary, change the flight to another (with a fee of 65 euros and an additional payment for the difference in price, if any).
You can combine both fares on a single ticket—for example, a Light fare without baggage allowance for a flight from Moscow to Rome and a Classic fare with baggage allowance for a return flight to Moscow if you expect to have more luggage. You can also combine a one-way Light fare on Alitalia with a return flight on Aeroflot. It's worth remembering that many of Alitalia's low-cost fares do not qualify for miles accrual in other SkyTeam member programs, including Aeroflot Bonus.
Passengers with the Light fare must check in online or at self-service check-in kiosks. Changing an automatically assigned seat costs €5, but is not always possible. The Alitalia website even contains conflicting information on this matter—it's possible that seat selection on the Moscow flight may even be free.
Passengers with elite status in one of the SkyTeam alliance programs (including Aeroflot Bonus) can carry one piece of baggage free of charge even on the Light fare. However, a free seat change after check-in is only available to elite members of the airline's own Millemiglia program.
Alitalia was likely forced to take this step by increased competition on the Moscow-Rome route. Over the past year, Siberia Airlines (S7 Airlines) and Ural Airlines have entered the market, while Aeroflot has increased its daily service to five. Alitalia itself resumed a second daily flight on this route this spring. It's likely that Alitalia will eventually extend its baggage-free fare to flights outside Italy.
Source: travel.ru