Alitalia Business Class to LAX

By the time I got to the gate, there was a healthy Priority line.

Yeah, I'm thinking that she's had it with travel for a while.  LOL.

Boarding began promptly at T-40.

OK, this is one tired looking cabin.

My inside window seat 1A.

What a strange set-up with the exposed tray table, flipped up and fastened to the wall panel.

Today's menu...

Which actually looks really good.  Unfortunately, reality wasn't anywhere nearly as good.

\

The Alitalia amenity kit.

Meh, although the Tuscan Soul body lotion was a nice take home.

Pretty weak headphones.  Glad I always travel with my Bose.

The pillow and duvet were a little worn but still functional and comfy.

Ready to go.

Once in the air, our cabin crew began prompt and efficient service, although without much warmth or personality.   My Campari Spritz, campari, prosecco and soda water.  With canapés.

Showtime, Alitalia style.  I decided to go with the full menu and the suggested wine pairing.   While the wines were actually quite good, the food was not. 

My joke of a starter... two balls of mozzarella and one and a half cherry tomatoes.

OMG, IFE from the dark ages.  With a similarly antiquated controller, and a terrible selection on movies... if you can even get them to work.

Yeah, that works really well.  

Casarecce pasta in seafood and monkfish sauce.   It didn't taste any better than it looked.

For my main, Neapolitan style sea bass fillet with traditional scapece style zucchini and potato gateau.  The potato was OK but the sea bass overcooked and "fishy".

On the other hand, the Italian Cheese Board was substantial and tasty... with another glass of Campalliano Rosso Piceno.   Caciocavallo, baked Ricotta and Grana Padano served with quince jam and dried fruit. 

And the Lemon Delight was really good.

Especially with a glass of Oirad Bianco Dolce and a glass of Limoncello Piemme L'Oro di Sorrento.

I finally settled on ARGO, the best of a bad lot of movie options, got it to play most of the time, and then slept for a good 5 hours.  But OMG, this flight was neverending... with strong headwinds today clocking in at nearly 14 hours.  Despite the All Day menu, I have no idea whether any of this was indeed offered or just located somewhere else in the cabin.  And no direction from the crew, who basically disappeared after the initial meal service.  When I got hungry and inquired in the galley, I was told a snack would be served soon...  OK.  And indeed, 20 minutes later, The Cutting Board fron Campania.  Again, this looked good on paper.

But was pretty pathetic in real life.

Mercifully, more than 13 hours after departing Rome, we descend to LAX.

Nearly 14 hours later, we finally land...

... but are banished to the dreaded Gate 200+ bus gates.  This day will never end.  The only good thing about this flight was it was nonstop from Rome.  As bad as BA is, I think Alitalia is even worse.   Unless I had to be in Rome, I'd connect on any other airline to get to Europe or the Middle East... that is unless the price was dirt cheap like mine.

On the other hand, nice plane watching on the drive to the bowels of the Bradley terminal.

Global Entry kiosks were wide open and I was in my car less than 10 minutes after entering the CBP facility.    Unfortunately, it took more than 2 hours in heavy 405 traffic for the 55 mile drive home to The OC.

Thanks for following along on this fun trip and report.