Update: ITA Airways Systems Are Back Online as of 24 February

Update: The app and desktop version are back online. Still, relying on passengers to call Italy to get anything done is a terrible back-up plan.

Last night, I tried using Italy’s ITA Airways app, to see if that Christmas gift had indeed been honored.

Whoops.

As of 13:30 Eastern Standard Time, the app is still not working. Not to mention, I couldn’t even sign-in to the desktop version of ITA Airways. However, there’s more to the story than a cursory check of one’s airline status.

You see, after receiving the e-mail last December about the extension of ITA Airways status for 2024, I called the airline to ask about a tangible frequent flier card. Throughout 2022, I was calling them, asking where the card was; each representative kept saying that it was on its way.

Why did I want the card? Some SkyTeam airline lounges had turned me away for having to sign-in to show them the status. In the fourth quarter of 2022, I finally realized that having the app might help; after some back-and-forth with the front desk staff — and a little peppering the conversation with local lingo — the app proved to be key.

The reason why I’m somewhat concerned now — in that world’s smallest violin sense of the word — is because I’m planning an international trip in my usual economy seat, and am hoping to avail of a SkyTeam Delta lounge.

At the end of the day, it depends on both the passenger’s ability to not throw a tantrum, and the airline lounge agent’s mood. But now that I can’t prove the airline status save for an e-mail — I shouldn’t have deleted that screenshot of the virtual card in the app! —  I suppose I’m back to being a free-agent in my flight selection.

/middling rant over

In summary, my advice is to get a screenshot of your virtual card when you can, in the event that the e-mail path proves to be insufficient. Of course, not having lounge access doesn’t deny you the privilege of boarding a plane — or grabbing a cube of processed cheese somewhere beforehand — but it could make your journey slightly less onerous.