Alitalia flights/layover in FCO

Personally, I would book a different flight with a longer layover.

I use British Airways with at least a two and a half to three-hour layover even though from Heathrow, I'm going to FCO.

Even though you have carry-on only, you still don't know if they'll be a delay.

Aside from their responsibilities, you don't know for sure about the next flight.

If you're trying to catch a RS tour with no wiggle room - one day, I wouldn't gamble it.

There may be a rare occurrence where a passenger will have a medical emergency.

Adding ** -- Thought of a couple incidents where deplaning was delayed. A flight I was on delayed because of a passenger incident aboard. After we landed, issue had to be addressed -- police came on board -- had to prepare for removal of that passenger, no one could deplane for obvious reasons.

Another time was a medical emergency for a passenger. We had to wait. **

Depending on where you are seated on the plane will determine how fast you're able to get off the plane.

I would have to agree with Girasole. I am never comfortable with short layovers, so I'd go with the later one.

But I'm wondering, is there a reason you couldn't fly from Philadelphia to Rome and then onward to Palermo?

If your flight from Zurich arrives on time, you should be able to make a connection to Palermo within the same terminal at FCO. If Zurich to Palermo is one ticket and not two separate tickets, Alitalia should rebook you if they cause you to miss the connection. You may want to call Alitalia's US 800 number to confirm. Be sure to have Alitalia's record locator number available before calling, which you'll also likely need to check in online.

. The airline would just put you on the next flight . There are 5 more flights operated by Alitalia after 13:15

We easily flew LHR to FCO to PMO on Alitalia. Immigration/ Passport control in FCO for transfers took a few minutes at most. Easy walk in the FCO terminal to connect to PMO flight. Yes, Alitalia is responsible to get you to PMO.

Thank you all for the replies.

The reason we can't get from PHL to FCO is because the miles cost was too much per ticket. 110K pp!!! Believe me, I worked on this forever using all the Euro hubs, via Canada as well as leaving from Newark and JFK using United and/or American Alliances miles. This was the best I could come up with.

We are leaving PHL (June 18th) 3 days prior to RS tour (arriving late on June 19th) and this should allow us one full free day prior to tour (June 21st).

I think I will call Alitalia and see what they say, but my better judgment is telling me to book the later flight.

Thanks again!

I would keep the earlier flight if it is a single ticket. From my reading you have a single ticket to Palermo on Alitalia with plane change in Rome. If you miss the connecting flight because of Alitalia then they are responsible for getting you to Palermo on the next available flight. Since you are in the Schengen zone there is no immigration or passport control in Rome. Just get off of one plane and get to the other gate. If something delays your first flight there is a possibility that the second flight could also be delayed. Even if you were checking bags there is no baggage claim since it is just a plane change. Don't over think this. Some people like to rip on Alitalia but we have found them to be just as dependable as any other airline. We have flown with them in and out of Rome several times with no serious delays.

If you're using miles, which airline are you using? Alitalia is still a Delta partner, right? I'd feel comfortable booking a flight through Delta using Alitalia, because I'd know that Delta would still ultimately be responsible for getting me from point A to point B. And I'd book the entire flight with one booking. I understand using points/miles. I do. But - just for me - I'd feel better knowing it was all on one booking, therefore one airline (such as Delta) was responsible for any connections, missed connections, etc.

If there are two bookings, you risk losing anything past the Zurich arrival.

Your comfort level is what matters here, of course. I am just sharing what works for me. I wish you the best of everything on your trip!

Booking the first flight with miles and connecting flights with cash seems to me a way for the airlines to waffle and claim no responsibility for connection between TWO tickets.

P.S. I was concerned about a two-hour connection in Zurich on one ticket, same airline, so I may just be overly risk-averse.

I don'y have Delta miles, just AA and United.

Being from PHL area, Delta would do me no good as it would route me through Atlanta for European flights. So PHL is an AA hub and Lufthansa is my Star alliance/untied choice leaving from PHL (and sometimes Air Canada)

Flight to Zurich is with miles and long enough layover before Rome/Palermo flight.