REVIEW | ITALO AGV | Club Executive and Smart

[@robyoungquist5803]

When I travel to Italy, I always book Frecciarossa 1000 Executive Class. The soft buttery yellow leather seats are super comfortable. Full meals served at seat. Attentive service by the Attendant … and this has been my experience consistently so I’m spoiled. 😉👍🏻. Thanks for posting your review. Thought I might be missing something of the competition but apparently I’m not. 😀.

[@FlyingDryden]

Thank you for your comment! Yes, the comfort on the Frecciarossa 1000, which I have personally experienced from Milan to Paris, is unbeatable, and it is also a considerably quieter train than the AGV we traveled on now. Unfortunately, it was an experience in 2022 with limited service due to you-know-what restrictions, so I would more than gladly try it again. 😊

[@dennisforner6090]

Appreciate your candid comments as I have not traveled on any Italo train. Concerning the Italo icon - whilst it does look similar to the QANTAS airline icon - the Qantas one is meant to symbolize a kangaroo whilst the Italo is supposed to represent a hare (i.e. speed). I have been to Rome Termini on a couple of occasions & while the Italo Lounge may not have been up to your expectations, believe me at least you had a reasonably quiet area to sit & quick access to toilets - cafes at the terminal are expensive & very noisy & toilets are not easy to get to, has been my personal experience. Seating areas are few & far between around the terminal. Unfortunately, all Italian VFTs tend to travel long distances with passengers boarding & departing along major cities - hence they are only cleaned at the end of the journey - which results in bins not being emptied or floors vacuumed - perhaps acceptable for economy/second class but I agree not acceptable for premium/first class. This would never happen on a Japanese VTS. I can only relate to my experience with the other Italian VFT operator -Trenitalia's Frecciarossa 1000 Executive class They provide quality hot meals with a large selection of drinks, expresso coffee in a cup & saucer & a carriage with only 10 lounge seats. Plus their lounges appear to offer more than what you experienced at the Italo Roma lounge. I used the Frecciarossa Executive class extensively whilst traveling from Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence & Rome & whilst not the cheapest way to travel by train, it sure provided an exceptional experience.

[@FlyingDryden]

Thank you for your comment and clarifications! I'm familiar with the kangaroo, but I actually had no idea about the hare. We also considered the Frecciarossa 1000 for this trip, as we've taken that train from Milan to Paris, but their Executive class was far too expensive for our taste. Still, it's fun to try new things, so I don't regret anything, of course. And you make a good point about the lounge, with seating, food and drink options, and of course, it's quieter there. But the Italo lounge is perhaps not something I'd write home about, even though the service inside was perfectly fine. I'd gladly ride the Frecciarossa 1000 again and experience their proper service. When we traveled in February 2022, there were still restrictions in France, which meant they didn't even serve water once we crossed the border from Italy... There's actually a video here on the channel from the Milan-Paris trip as well.

[@dennisforner6090]

@@FlyingDryden Yes I did see it & made a comment. Enjoy your variety of videos. Fully agree Executive Class can be expensive - just depends on how early you book online (I use the Trenitalia website) & the time of day/night & of course the destination. My son & daughter recently caught Frecciarossa & were able to purchase 2 tickets for the price of one!

[@FlyingDryden]

That's a good one! We paid EUR 160 each on Milan - Paris February 2022 three weeks (I think) ahead and found it affordable. The price for Rome - Milan one week ahead in mid-August was more than double up. Well, we were kind of late that time and next time we will check availability perhaps at least two weeks before departure. 😂

[@lorenzo_de_paolis]

In Italy the price of the executive class is the only one that does not change with the period, you can buy the ticket as soon as possible, but Rome - Milan in executive will always cost you €295

[@steveicamen5205]

On Italo SMART class, are you allowed to take on a luggage (within the size limit) plus backpack?

[@FlyingDryden]

I don’t know. Their website says “For journeys in SMART ambience only, no baggage measuring over 75x53x30 cm is allowed.”

[@FlyingDryden]

Check this link: blog.italotreno.it/en/train-world/luggage-and-suitcases-on-italo-all-the-rules/#free-charge