American Airlines Help

If you're flying American on both legs to Rome, and you booked the flights together--meaning you have enough time between flights--your bag should make it. If not, the AA people at FCO will speak English. You won't be able to sneak a bag 4 inches too long on board.

We fly DFW/ORD/FCO next month. From my past experiences at O'Hare, I would not be comfortable with a 1 hour 15 minute connection on the way out. There's only one flight a day to Rome.

On the way back it's okay, but we have a dozen non-stops a day to/from O'Hare from here.

Just flew American Airlines from Philadelphia to Gunnison Colorado by way of Dallas. All four planes we used on the trip ran 1 hour or more late. This was my first experience with Amerian Airlines, but I wonder if they typically run late.
Have you hotel in Rome's address and phone number on a tag on you bag with dates you'll be there. We flew Air France with a plane change in Paris on the way to Rome in Sept. Our bags did not make the connection. We saw them 24 hours later. We gave the lost baggage in Rome the address and phone number of our hotel in Rome. They did contact our hotel to tell them our bags were still in Paris and would be arriving the next night on Alitalia. Just in case, carry a change of clothes in you carry on. It helps to be prepared for anything.

I'd vote with trying to take it on board. If they say something, it will likely be that your luggage is too big or there is no room for it and it has to be checked. At that point, they will check it and put it in the hold.

I'd suggest a change of clothes in a separate small bag inside the big one. If they refuse the big one, take out the little one and turn the other over to them. This way if it does get lost, you are safer.

If they refuse it on your first flight, let them check it all the way and do the little bag thing.

I agree with Jim. That is a very short time for a connection there, you never know how the planes are going to be running. I've almost missed outgoing planes to Europe from there because of tight connections, and have missed connectors on return flights because the one back into the country was running a little late.

As to the bag, they are checking pretty carefully on size now. Can you get a smaller bag so that it meets the requirements?

Hi Ashley, I go along with Denice, buy yourself a 21" bag and this way you don't have anything to worry about. This is an avoidable problem and well worth the expense of buying another piece of luggage that can also come in handy to have for any future trips.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Unfortanelty, I cannot find a smaller bag in time (the 21 inch). I could shop online, but shipping to Fairbanks takes too long! I am going to check the bags, pack some clothes in a backpack and hope for the best. Maybe I will get lucky and be able to get on a earlier flight to Chicago out of Seattle. I have 5 hours there! The flights from Alaska are more than a little inconvient.

Go to the Rescue Mission/ Thrift/Goodwill store in Fairbanks and buy a bag which is 4" shorter.