I'm traveling to Positano in October with my fiance, and I've never been abroad before so I'm quite clueless as to how to get through airports. We've already bought plane tickets and hotels. We're flying out of Atlanta through Delta, land first in Rome and then go on to Naples where we will have a hired car take us the rest of the way to Positano. We are flying into Rome (FCO) and then to Naples after a 1 hour and 10 minute layover with Alitalia (a code-share with Delta.) My question is, is this enough time to get from one flight to another? Do we have to go through any security, customs or other delays from one end of the airport to another? Or do we go through customs in Naples?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
Heather, As this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to departure. It will provide you with a LOT of good information on how to travel in Europe. To answer your question, that should be adequate time for your connecting flight. You'll clear Passport control in Rome, as that's your first entry to the E.U. Once that's done, get to your boarding gate for the flight to Naples as soon as possible. You may be arriving at Terminal 5 and departing from Terminal 1. As your flights are a "code share" arrangement, it's likely that your checked luggage will be forwarded directly to Naples, so you won't have to worry about it in Rome. When you've collected your luggage in Naples, look for your car service. They will probably be holding up a sign with your name on it. Just curious, which Hotel are you using in Positano? There's not much to do there aside from shopping and the beach, so I assume you have some day trips planned? Happy travels!
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
As far as customs: I'm not sure if this holds true at every airport as I've only flown into Bologna but there may or may not be any customs check. The customs office was closed when I arrived and the several times I picked people up it was the same scenario.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Heather, Congrats on your first trip to Europe. I lived in ATL for years and often flew DL 240 to Rome (back in the day it was flight DL 70). If your flight gets out of ATL on time and your luggage is codeshared, then as Ken suggests, you should have plenty of time to make your flight. You will probably come into Gate G, which is where the satellite gates are AND where almost every US flagged Airline docks - then you take the Skytrain into T3, where immigration is. If there are no gates available in the G satellite area, then you'll get bused in from your plane to T3 Arrivals. I've had it happen both ways coming in from ATL. Once in T3, You'll do the immigration check... and then you want to STAY IN THE secured area of T3 and head for your gate. Alitalia primarily flies out of T1 (Gates A) on domestic flights (as Ken has noted), but sometimes due to volume they go out of B, C, or D. (Those last three are in T3 Departures!). Sounds confusing - it's not. You might look at the links below to get some idea of the terminal layouts... but basically T3, T2, and T1 are the arrivals and departures areas... but the GATES are where the planes depart from! They did this change a couple of years ago. Customs is NOTHING to worry about; Again, you might read parts of these for help - just parts as you are connecting! Arriving at FCO Renaming FCO And this post, in the top section, has more terminal maps that may assist you: Where to meet at FCO Airport Good Luck on your trip!