April 1, 2026, marks the day former Alitalia loyalists can finally stop pretending their SkyTeam cards still matter. ITA Airways officially joins Star Alliance and adopts Miles&More as its full loyalty program, ending the awkward bilateral limbo that’s lasted since it ditched SkyTeam last year.
The timing is no coincidence. Lufthansa Group’s integration of ITA has been methodical, with earning on ITA flights already live since February 2025. Now the alliance membership delivers proper reciprocal benefits: Star Alliance Gold lounge access, priority boarding, and the ability to burn miles from United, Aeroplan, or Avianca on Italy routes.
Volare elites, this is your cue. The old ITA program shuts down March 30. Miles don’t transfer. But Lufthansa is offering a free status match to Miles&More, with the new status valid through February 2027. If you still hold Senator, Frequent Traveller, or equivalent from the Alitalia days, claim it before the window slams shut. Don’t let Italian bureaucracy turn your hard-earned status into a participation trophy.
ITA’s Product: Better Than Expected, Especially When It’s Not Lufthansa
ITA’s long-haul business class on the A330neo and A350 is legitimately strong — reverse herringbone seats, solid bedding, and food that reminds you why people romanticize Italian dining. The real surprise is the A321neo on medium-haul runs to the Middle East and North Africa. Fully flat beds in a 1-1 configuration, multi-course meals with proper Italian wine, and service that feels attentive rather than obligatory.
On shorter hops like London City to Milan Linate, the A220 business product is crisp and efficient. Think fresh pizzetta, decent tiramisu, and an actual sense of occasion instead of the usual European business-class trough of mystery meat and warm white wine.
It’s not flawless. Lounges at FCO can get crowded once every Star Gold member realizes they now qualify. But compared to Lufthansa’s increasingly generic European business class, ITA often feels more soulful — and occasionally cheaper on the same city pairs.
The Miles&More Math: Earning and Burning on Italy Routes
With full integration, you’ll earn Miles&More miles and qualifying Points on ITA flights at rates aligned with the Lufthansa Group family. Expect similar accrual to Lufthansa on comparable routes, though exact bonuses depend on fare class and your status tier. The real edge comes on award redemptions.
Italy routes have long suffered from Lufthansa Group monopoly pricing in business class, especially ex-U.S. to Rome or Milan. ITA’s presence — and the ability to redeem partner miles directly on AZ flight numbers — should create more inventory and potentially softer pricing over time. Burning Aeroplan or United miles for a lie-flat A321neo to Cairo or Dubai suddenly looks a lot more appealing than another cramped Lufthansa A320.
Routes from Rome FCO now stretch to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Tokyo, New Delhi, and soon Houston (starting May 2026). European feeders to Milan Linate and other Italian cities give decent connectivity without always forcing a Munich or Frankfurt stop.
Positioning Against Lufthansa: The Not-So-Subtle Rival
Lufthansa still dominates premium European travel, but ITA isn’t playing the low-cost game. It’s positioning itself as the stylish alternative on key business routes — Rome to London, Paris, or Frankfurt. Fares can undercut Lufthansa on certain dates, especially when booked with points or through corporate channels.
The product edge is real on the newer aircraft. Lufthansa’s European business class has felt phoned-in for years; ITA’s narrow-body lie-flats and food game actually deliver an experience worth the fare difference.
That said, don’t expect open warfare. They’re both under the same Lufthansa umbrella. This is more like two siblings competing for the family business — one in a better suit.
Smart players will use this transition. Match your status. Book a few ITA segments in the coming months to test the new earning. Look for sweet spots redeeming partner miles on less competitive Italy routes before the masses catch on and award space tightens.
The Alitalia refugees have waited long enough for a proper European premium program home. April 1 isn’t a joke — it’s the reset button. Log into Miles&More, complete that status match, and start plotting your next Rome itinerary. The miles will thank you.[[1]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/ita-airways-star-alliance-miles-more/)[[1]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/ita-airways-star-alliance-miles-more/)