After an excellent weekend of sunshine and good food in Sicily, it’s unfortunately time to head back to Paris.
As a reminder, here is the booked itinerary:
Arrival at the airport and check-in
We arrive at the airport from the beautiful city of Syracuse by rental car. Take it easy when returning your car, as the process is not the easiest, and very time-consuming.
We checked-in online when it opened. I was already in Business class, but my friends couldn’t upgrade online (or by phone).
Please note that access to Catania Fontanarossa airport is extremely difficult, regulated and time-consuming. The Departures level is not open; all entrances to the terminal are via the Arrivals level.
And there are people who want to get in. We wait almost 20 minutes for the 300 people in front of us, who are practically circling the terminal, to enter after their tickets have been checked by the security guards.
Once in the terminal, my friends try to get to the Air France check-in counter to buy a paid upgrade. They waited… 50 minutes for nothing, nothing offered.
The Alitalia lounge (landside) is closed.
The Fast Track seems open, but is used mainly by disabled people and families, but we’ll insist on using it (and it will turn out to be a good idea).
In the terminal, it’s stiflingly hot, social distances are not respected and there are very few seats available.
Lounge
Closed door!
Boarding
The Airside side of Catania is truly a zoo. No organized queues, no priority boarding. Boarding is by rows, once your number has been shouted.. In view of the mess, I find a seat at the back of the terminal and wait for the last call to engage me in the boarding queue.
Cabin and welcome
The cabin is the traditional Smart & Beyond we’re used to in medium-haul.
I complain to the purser about the disastrous experience on the ground, and she makes a note of it in her CabinPad and takes care to treat us well throughout the flight. She’ll take good care of us.
A wrapped oshibori and a bottle of room-temperature water are brought to us.
The take-off over Mount Etna will be magnificent.
Service and catering
Service starts as soon as we reach 10,000 feet. We’re offered an aperitif, and I’ll have a Perrier. A Laurent Perrier. 🙂
I’ll continue with the meal and an excellent fillet of beef.
The Laurent Perrier will continue to flow until we land. The flight attendant will be perfect.
Arrival and disembarkation
We arrive in a peak arrival slot, and have to wait almost 20 minutes before we can pass through immigration.
Bottom line
A rather good flight, but made worse by the horrible experience on the ground in Catania.
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