We flew Barcelona to Tokyo with ITA Airways as a family of four, via Rome, and the round trip cost us €2,600 for all four of us, July 2023, tickets were bought in January 2023.
That figure is why I am writing this. Airline reviews are everywhere; ones that tell you what a family of four actually paid are not. What follows is what we got for it, what surprised us, what annoyed us, and one thing about ITA that has changed significantly since we flew.
Is ITA Airways good for families? The short version
Yes, with one caveat about the food.
The standout was priority boarding for families with children — and you do not need a priority pass to get it. We were among the first on both flights, which with two kids and hand luggage is worth more than it sounds. Every passenger has a personal screen with a large film and TV library. The cabin crew were polite and attentive throughout, and both aircraft were clean and well kept.
The caveat: on a 14-hour flight to Tokyo we were served one full meal and two snacks. We expected two full meals. One of the snacks was a sandwich, nuts and something sweet, which took the edge off, but if you have children who eat properly, bring more food than you think you need.
What’s changed since we flew — read this before you book
ITA Airways is in the middle of being absorbed into the Lufthansa Group, and two of the changes directly affect passengers.
- Lufthansa acquired 41% in January 2025, and in May 2026 exercised its option on a further 49%, taking it toward 90% ownership.
- ITA left SkyTeam on 30 April 2025 and joined Star Alliance on 1 April 2026, as the alliance’s 26th member.
- The Volare loyalty programme closed on 31 March 2026. ITA is now a fully integrated Miles & More partner.
Why this matters to you. If you hold Air France, KLM or Delta status and were planning to earn or use miles on ITA, that no longer works the way it did. If you hold Lufthansa, United, Air Canada or any other Star Alliance status, you now get benefits on ITA that were not available before.
Correct as of August 2026 — this situation is still moving, so check before you book.
The route: Barcelona → Rome → Tokyo
There is no direct Barcelona–Tokyo flight on ITA. You connect at Rome Fiumicino, which is where all of ITA’s intercontinental routes operate from.
The long leg — Rome to Tokyo Haneda — is now daily, operated by an Airbus A350-900 with 334 seats: 33 in business, 301 in economy.
| Flight | Route | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZ792 | Rome Fiumicino → Tokyo Haneda | 14:55 | 10:25 next day |
| AZ793 | Tokyo Haneda → Rome Fiumicino | 12:25 | 20:10 |
Haneda rather than Narita is a genuine advantage — it is considerably closer to central Tokyo, which after fourteen hours with children is not a small thing.
Booking and check-in
ITA’s website is straightforward — dates, destinations, passengers, done.
The thing worth knowing: online check-in is available for direct flights, but because we had a stopover we had to check in at the airport. Build that into your timings; it is the difference between arriving two hours early and arriving three.
Family priority boarding — the best thing about flying ITA
This is the part I would tell other parents about first.
Travelling with children got us priority boarding automatically. No priority pass, no extra fee, no asking. We were among the first on the aircraft on both legs.
If you have flown long-haul with kids you know why this matters: overhead space near your seats, time to get everyone settled before the aisle fills, and no standing in a queue with a tired child and four bags. Several airlines have quietly dropped family pre-boarding in recent years. ITA still does it, and it made both flights meaningfully easier.
Seats and entertainment
Every economy seat has a personal screen, and the library is large — films, TV, games and music, enough to keep both adults and children occupied across fourteen hours.
The food — Japanese or Italian
A nice touch, and the detail I have not seen in any other review: on the Tokyo leg you choose between Japanese and Italian cuisine.
My husband and I both took the Japanese option. The kids both went Italian. Everyone was happy, and being able to give children the familiar option on a fourteen-hour flight while the adults try something else is genuinely well judged.
The meals were decent for airline food — not remarkable, but not the low bar people expect.
The honest complaint: one full meal and two snacks across fourteen hours felt thin. We expected a second proper meal. The sandwich, nuts and sweet in one of the snack services helped, but I would pack more than you think you need, particularly for children who eat on a schedule.
What it cost
€2,600 round trip for four people, Barcelona to Tokyo via Rome. We flew in July 2023, tickets were purchased in January 2023.
For a fourteen-hour flight to Japan for a family of four, we thought that was reasonable — and the fact that Rome–Tokyo is a single direct hop rather than a second connection is part of the value.
Would we fly ITA Airways again?
Yes. The priority boarding alone would bring us back, and the aircraft, the crew and the Haneda arrival all worked in our favour.
The food is the one thing I would change, and the one thing I would prepare for. Pack extra.
If you are flying from Barcelona to Japan, the Rome connection is efficient and the price was fair. Just check where ITA sits in the Lufthansa integration by the time you book, because it is moving.
Other airlines we’ve flown long-haul with kids
We fly out of Barcelona a lot, and we have written up most of it:
Level, Barcelona to Los Angeles
Emirates economy, Barcelona to Singapore
United basic economy, Barcelona to Chicago
And once you land in Japan:
navigating Japan with a JR Pass
Frequently asked questions about flying ITA Airways
Is ITA Airways good for families travelling with children?
Yes. ITA Airways offers priority boarding for families with children and you do not need to buy a priority pass to get it, which makes settling in with kids and hand luggage considerably easier. Every economy seat has a personal entertainment screen with a large film, TV, games and music library.
Which alliance is ITA Airways in?
ITA Airways joined Star Alliance on 1 April 2026 as its 26th member, having left SkyTeam on 30 April 2025. Its Volare loyalty programme closed on 31 March 2026 and it is now a fully integrated Miles & More partner. If you hold SkyTeam status with Air France, KLM or Delta, that no longer earns or redeems on ITA the way it used to.
Does ITA Airways fly from Barcelona to Tokyo?
Not directly. You connect at Rome Fiumicino, where all of ITA’s intercontinental routes operate from. The Rome to Tokyo Haneda leg runs daily on an Airbus A350-900. Haneda is closer to central Tokyo than Narita, which is a real advantage at the end of a long flight with children.
Can I check in online for ITA Airways flights?
Online check-in is available for direct flights. For itineraries with a stopover, check-in may need to be completed at the airport, so allow extra time at departure.
What meals are served on ITA Airways long-haul flights?
On the Tokyo route you choose between Japanese and Italian cuisine, which is unusual and works well for families where children want something familiar. On our fourteen-hour flight we were served one full meal and two snacks, one of which included a sandwich, nuts and something sweet. We would pack extra food, particularly for children.
How much does a family ticket cost on ITA Airways to Tokyo?
Prices vary considerably by season and how far ahead you book. Our family of four paid approximately 2,600 euros for a round trip from Barcelona to Tokyo via Rome. Treat that as one data point from one booking rather than a current fare.
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