While writing about the ITA Airways joining of SkyTeam alliance yesterday, I noted that the references to MilleMiglia had been removed from Alitalia’s website. However, the press release from the alliance indicated that some benefits would still apply (read more here).
MilleMiglia was the frequent flier program for the now-defunct Alitalia (the name of Alitalia and the website address have already been purchased by ITA), and ITA Airways is not allowed to buy it directly due to Italy’s deal with the European Union in regards to funding the new airline.
You can access MilleMiglia here.
The same day that ITA Airways joined SkyTeam, MilleMiglia sent out an email blast to program members, reminding them that they were still around, albeit at a new web address.
The “new” website is essentially the old MilleMiglia part of the Alitalia’s. They still try to get members to credit activities to the program that may go away at the end of this year unless renewed.
Conclusion
Unless MilleMiglia magically ends up as a part of ITA Airways, it is challenging to see how it could sustain itself rather than simply going under and vanishing like what happened with airberlin’s TopBonus, which tried to continue trading after the airline collapsed.
ITA Airways, which may soon be called Alitalia, cannot purchase the MilleMiglia from the bankrupt company, but it must be first sold to an unrelated third party that can sell it to the new airline later.