Overbooking and delays, tourists arrive and continuity goes haywire

Tourists arrive and territorial continuity, as always, creaks. Chronic delays, skyrocketing prices, endless waits on seats in the departures area of airports. And now there's overbooking too. Cases are increasing at Cagliari airport, where connections with Rome and Milan are managed by Ita Airways. Dozens of passengers when checking in online - on the app or on the company's website - unexpectedly found themselves on the "waiting list", despite having regularly purchased the ticket. It happened especially on the Linate-Cagliari route.

Customer service

An unexpected event that for many turned into a long phone call to the Ita call center seeking explanations. No number dedicated to Sardinian travelers - a small luxury that was granted in the past by Alitalia - and interminable background music: those who have called the company's customer service know that before speaking to a real switchboard operator they must first pass a maze of instructions ("to receive information press one to listen again press zero") and arm yourself with patience.

The call

“We are experiencing a higher number of calls than expected,” says the voice recorded to warn the would-be passenger. After 15, 20 and even 25 minutes of waiting you finally arrive at the telephone operator who guarantees to answer "from Italy". And sometimes it manages to solve the problem: in recent days many have still managed to check in (after the intervention of customer assistance) and leave, not before having noticed that the flight was not full despite the 'overbooking announced.

The reward

Others, however, found themselves without a seat when they were already on board the plane, with their boarding pass clutched in their hands. In this case some volunteers agreed to get off the Airbus to take the next flight, with the promise of a refund of 150 euros.