ITA Airways in 2026: Essential Changes, Flights, Baggage, Check-In and More

ITA Airways is in the middle of a major integration with Lufthansa Group, and 2026 has brought several important changes for travelers. The airline joined Star Alliance on April 1, 2026, moved its loyalty program into Miles & More, and is expected to move from Lufthansa Group’s current 41% ownership to 90%, subject to regulatory approval. For passengers, however, the practical questions remain simple: how to book ITA Airways flights, what baggage is included, when check-in opens, how to check flight status, and what happens if a flight is changed or canceled.

What Changed With ITA Airways in 2026?

The biggest changes concern ownership, airline alliances, and loyalty—not the basic process of flying. ITA Airways remains the operating airline passengers book and fly, while its commercial and loyalty relationships have become more closely connected to Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance.

The key developments are:

Date	Development
January 2025	Lufthansa Group completed the acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways.
2025	ITA Airways completed its transition away from SkyTeam.
March 2026	ITA Airways announced the end of the Volare program and its integration with Miles & More.
April 1, 2026	ITA Airways became a fully connected Star Alliance member.
2026	Lufthansa Group exercised its option to acquire an additional 49% stake, taking its planned ownership to 90%.
Q1 2027 expected	Completion of the majority acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals.

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Lufthansa says the additional 49% stake is being acquired for €325 million and that completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

Is the carrier Now Part of Lufthansa Group?

Lufthansa already owns 41% of the carrier. In May 2026, Lufthansa announced that it would exercise its option to acquire another 49%, which would raise its stake to 90%. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval, so it should not be described as a completed 90% acquisition yet.

For travelers, the more immediate change is that ITA Airways is already integrated into the Lufthansa Group ecosystem in several customer-facing areas. Lufthansa’s latest investor information says major customer-facing interfaces are already integrated, although some North Atlantic matters remain subject to regulatory approval.

What Does Star Alliance Mean for ITA Airways Passengers?

ITA Airways officially joined Star Alliance on April 1, 2026. The move gives passengers access to the alliance’s broader network and reciprocal benefits, subject to the applicable frequent-flyer and status rules.

This matters most if you regularly connect through Rome or Milan or already use a Star Alliance loyalty program.

Loyalty Benefits

ITA Airways’ former Volare program ended on March 30, 2026. ITA Airways announced that from April 1, 2026, it would become a fully integrated partner of Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program.

That means travelers returning to ITA Airways in 2026 should not expect the old Volare program to operate as before. Volare points had specific transition and redemption arrangements during 2026, including a limited period for converting eligible points into vouchers.

Star Alliance Status

Star Alliance membership can provide benefits such as reciprocal frequent-flyer recognition, lounge access, and other alliance services when the relevant fare, operating carrier, itinerary, and status conditions are met. The alliance itself confirmed that ITA Airways’ integration enables through check-in, reciprocal frequent-flyer recognition, and access to Star Alliance lounges.

The important distinction is that alliance membership does not automatically make every benefit available to every passenger. Your status, ticket, fare class, operating carrier, and itinerary can affect what you receive.

Booking the carrier’s flights in 2026

The basic booking process remains straightforward. Travelers can search and purchase tickets through ITA Airways’ website or app, or through a travel agency.

When comparing the carrier’s flights, do more than look at the headline fare. Check the fare conditions, baggage allowance, seat-selection rules, flexibility, and whether any segment is operated by a partner airline.

The carrier also notes that some flights displayed on its website may be operated by partner airlines. That can affect the onboard experience and the applicable operating-carrier procedures.

Choosing a Fare

Your fare type can influence what is included in the ticket, particularly baggage, changes, refunds, and seat selection. Rather than assuming that every Economy ticket has identical conditions, check the exact fare shown during booking.

This is especially important when the cheapest fare appears attractive but does not include the baggage or flexibility you actually need.

For frequent travelers, the loyalty side also deserves attention. Since ITA Airways is now part of Star Alliance and participates in Miles & More, the value of a particular ITA Airways flight can depend on how the fare earns miles or status credits under the applicable program rules.

The Carrier Check-In: When Does It Open?

ITA Airways online check-in generally opens 48 hours before departure. For flights to or from the United States, online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. Online check-in is available through the airline’s website and app.

The exact airport deadline for completing check-in and boarding can vary. The carrier’s conditions of carriage state that check-in time limits differ by airport and that passengers are responsible for observing the applicable deadline shown for their journey.

What Can Prevent Online Check-In?

Online check-in is not available in every situation. Restrictions can apply to passengers requiring special assistance, certain special-baggage situations, unaccompanied minors, some group bookings, and itineraries involving partner-operated flights.

The safest approach is to check the specific booking rather than assume that a general online check-in rule applies to every itinerary.

If your journey contains a partner-operated segment, also pay attention to which airline operates that flight. The operating carrier can determine the check-in process and airport procedures.

ITA Airways Baggage Policy: What Can You Bring?

The ITA Airways baggage policy depends on your travel class, fare, route, and itinerary. The current published rules allow one carry-on bag weighing up to 8 kg with maximum dimensions of 55 × 40 × 23 cm, plus one personal item such as a handbag.

Checked baggage is more variable, so travelers should verify the allowance attached to their actual fare.

Travel class	Published checked-baggage allowance
Economy Light	No checked baggage
Economy	1 × 23 kg
Premium Economy	2 × 23 kg
Business	2 × 32 kg, with specific domestic Italy exceptions

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Each checked bag generally has a maximum total dimension of 158 cm, calculated by adding height, width, and depth. ITA Airways also publishes route-specific exceptions, so the allowance displayed for your booking should take priority over a general table.

Why Your Fare Matters

A common mistake is to assume that an Economy ticket automatically includes a checked suitcase. The current ITA Airways baggage table specifically lists Economy Light as having no checked baggage, while standard Economy includes one 23 kg piece.

That difference can make a cheaper-looking fare less attractive once baggage is added.

How to Check the Carrier Flight Status

The most reliable place to check the carrier flight status is the airline’s own website or app. ITA Airways provides flight-management features through its digital channels, including flight-status information.

Check the status close to departure even if your itinerary originally showed a normal schedule. Operational conditions can change, and a live status is more useful than relying on an older booking confirmation.

For connecting itineraries, check each important segment rather than looking only at the first flight. A delay on the first segment can affect the connection even when the onward flight itself is still scheduled normally.

ITA Airways Cancellation Policy and Refunds

Cancellation and refund rights depend on the ticket’s fare conditions and the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

For flights to or from the United States, the carrier states that reservations can be canceled without penalty within 24 hours when the booking was made at least seven days before departure. The airline says requests under this provision must be submitted through its U.S. refund page or U.S. call center.

Outside that specific situation, a voluntary cancellation is generally governed by the fare rules attached to the ticket.

What If ITA Airways Changes or Cancels Your Flight?

An involuntary schedule change or cancellation is different from simply deciding not to travel. Your available options can depend on the circumstances and applicable passenger-rights rules.

ITA Airways’ own change-and-refund information says online changes and refunds are permitted according to the applicable fare rules and that some cases must be handled through its Customer Information Assistance Office or travel agency.

If you booked through an agency, contacting the agency can be necessary because it controls the ticket transaction.

ITA Airways Contact: How to Reach Customer Service

For general assistance, ITA Airways publishes +39 06 85960020 as its Customer Information Assistance Office number for calls from Italy and abroad. The published service hours are daily from 07:00 to 22:00 Italian time.

For U.S. travelers, ITA Airways’ U.S. customer-service documentation lists 877-793-1717, including for the U.S.-specific 24-hour cancellation process.

Because airline contact details can change, travelers should verify the number on ITA Airways’ official website before calling, particularly when dealing with refunds, special assistance, or disrupted travel.

What Should You Check Before Your ITA Airways Flight?

A simple pre-flight review can prevent most avoidable surprises.

Before departure, confirm:

• Your flight number and operating carrier
• Online check-in opening time
• Your exact baggage allowance
• Carry-on size and weight
• Seat-selection conditions
• Passport, visa, and entry requirements for your destination
• Any connection requirements
• Current flight status
• The fare’s change and refund conditions
• The correct customer-service channel if something goes wrong

The most important point is to check the specific booking, rather than relying only on a general airline policy. Fare families, destinations, operating carriers, and passenger circumstances can all affect the rules that apply.

What Is Likely to Happen Next With ITA Airways?

The next major corporate milestone is Lufthansa Group’s planned increase in ownership from 41% to 90%. Lufthansa says the additional 49% acquisition is priced at €325 million and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

For passengers, the more meaningful story is already underway: ITA Airways has joined Star Alliance and moved its loyalty relationship into Miles & More. The airline is therefore operating with much closer Lufthansa Group integration than it did during its SkyTeam period.

That does not mean every future schedule, fare, route, or customer policy can be predicted from the ownership change. Travelers should continue to use the airline’s current booking, baggage, check-in, flight-status, and refund information for itinerary-specific decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions