Alitalia Rome to Chicago being cancelled?

[ushumgal]

Hi everyone! I've been going through a VERY long and drawn-out process of trying to book a flight from Malaga to Chicago via Rome. The reps at Alitalia have told me that the Rome-Chicago route is being cancelled, and so I need to change by return flight. However, their website shows flights for that route well into next year.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? And what happens to people who book the flight on the web, then? (I had to call to reserve places for my dogs).

[OltonPete]

ushumgal

Alitalia W11 Long-Haul Operation Changes as 07JUL11: Chicago & Los Angeles Suspension | AIRLINE ROUTE (http://airlineroute.net/2011/07/07/az-w11update2/)

This has been a popular topic on another forum due to the
fact as mentioned in the link it was almost 50 years old.
Although it says suspension and not cancelled for good.

Well no alternatives via Rome but perhaps Skyteam could
route you via CDG or AMS.

Although the same source as above has Air France reducing
CDG-ORD but only by one flight a week.

For January on a Tue/Thu/Sat the AF site is showing UX to CDG
and DL to ORD with 1 hour 10 connection 09.25 dep ex AGP.

Too many Skyteam transatlantic short-term reductions to list
but at least there are alternatives.

[ushumgal]

Thanks Pete, that link was very useful! A lot of the call center people at Alitalia knew nothing about the suspensions (so they would tell me a supervisor would call me back later...which they never did)...but at least I finally got my return flight sorted out for early April!