Looks like the rumours about Etihad buying Air Malta are both true and false. The new proposal is for Alitalia to take a stake instead, Since Alitalia's largest shareholder is Etihad anyway, this is probably a way of putting a more European face on the deal. There are obvious fleet similarities between the small Air Malta fleet and that of Alitalia (CFM56-powered A320 series), but the important question is did I do well getting a MilleMiglia status match, or should I start collecting Etihad Guest points anyway!
Thanks Charles, I had intended to do an updated post on this but got somewhat sidetracked. I have no idea what the precise rationale is for Alitalia taking the lead here but, as you note, it's effectively Etihad driving it. Yes, I wonder what will happen to the woeful Air Malta Flypass. We shall see. Something will happen, I am assured...
Apart from the clunky IT, it's a very confusing system. I don't know how far along the process I am from either earning Diamond or losing Permanent. In fact, Flypass is now much more hidden on the new and improved website. Awardwallet is still unable to update balances without you having accessed the "My FlyPass" tab manually beforehand. The number of base miles and bonus miles are a complete mystery to me. I look forward to a new system and/or currency in the near future. Having said that, when I first logged into my comped MilleMiglia account, I could see someone else's details and miles. Air Malta never got that wrong.
As indeed I believe they are to those running Air Malta One amusing Air Malta cluelessness story for me was when I wrote about Avios.com offering redemptions on Air Malta (they do, 10k each way plus taxes of around £30-35): A couple of days after I posted, Air Malta emailed me to ask what I was talking about. Apparently this deal is not based on any agreement between Air Malta and Avios - Avios will, it seems, just buy you a cash ticket when you pay for Air Malta with Avios! This was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed. With this being Air Malta, however, I somehow doubt it.
I like the concept of Air Malta premium economy (based on the Avios.com screenshot). In Air Malta Economy you get a bottle of water and an inedible sandwich. In Premium Economy you don't get the sandwich.
Inedible sandwich? That's outrageous! Here is a genuine picture of mine from my last flight: I love the inclusion of the second little bit of green pepper. As if without that it might somehow have been deemed inadequate.
Maltese bread is so good, albeit probably not suitable for an airline sandwich. I'm still irked that I have to pay for my kinnie.
A nice bit of hobz biz zejt would be great (if potentially messy) on a plane! I'd forgotten about Kinnie - slightly craving one now you've mentioned it. Tell me the Cisk is cold and the pastizzi are hot, and I'd prob book a flight right now!
