Hello,
We are trying to maximize time in Sicily without risking missing a flight. If I fly out of Catania early and arrive at Rome at 7:35am then try to catch a Rome to Oakland flight on Norwegian Air leaving around 10:55am, am I leaving myself enough time. Does anyone know if I will arrive in a domestic terminal and have to go thru additional security to transfer to an international terminal at FCO??
Experience? Suggestions??
Thanks in advance
That would be fine if your flight from Catania isn't delayed, which happens often enough if Etna is burping. What time would your flight leave Catania?
It sounds like you are asking about flying on one ticket from Catania to Rome, then another ticket from Rome to Oakland, all on the same day.
If this is the case, how lucky do you feel? If there's any problem, you will be responsible, both logistically and financially, for getting a new ticket from Rome to Oakland - at last minute prices.
In a similar situation, I flew from Catania to Rome a day early, then had dinner in Rome, so that I wouldn't have to worry about missing the flight home. You may feel more comfortable with risk than I am.
Different airlines from Catania to Rome arrive at different terminals in Rome; Norwegian departures use Terminal 3. Even if you arrive at T3, I'm not sure if you can stay behind security when transferring. If you are checking bags, you definitely can't; you will have to pick up your checked bags in Rome and re-check them to Oakland before going to your next gate (Norwegian will not interline bags from other carriers).
If you do want to fly in to Rome the night before, note that there are numerous flights a day from Catania to Rome on multiple carriers, so you can choose a late one. Looking quickly on Skyscanner for the randomly chosen date of October 11, 2017, I see flights leaving Catania at 8:30 and 9:55 PM.
Harold has pointed out the financial risk. I'd be too worried about that (and possibly about job impact if I didn't get back to work on time) to enjoy the last week of my trip.
The general guideline for international-flight check-in is 3 hours ahead of time. You won't be at the Rome check-in counter by 7:55 AM even if your flight is on time and you have no checked baggage to retrieve. Of course, Norwegian Air's suggested check-in time may be less than 3 hours.
I'd say the only sort of person who should attempt what you are proposing is a happy-go-lucky risk-taker with the financial resources to absorb the cost of a last-minute one-way ticket back home and an understanding boss. I certainly don't blame you for wanting to maximize your time on Sicily, though.
This is what came to mind when I saw your post ( from Dirty Harry)
you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?"
IF everything works as planned it should work..... but you are one hiccup from disaster, in my view
Don't do it on separate tickets. You need to re-dispatch your luggage in Rome flying on different tickets, then go through security. The smallest of details will make you miss your flight on Norwegian and they will not be accommodating of your delay to check-in or appear on gate (unless they also issued the flight all the way from Catania in the same ticket, which is not the case).
Instead, I'd do the following: take the last flight Catania-Roma the day before. On that day, get out of the hotel early, enjoy the day doing interesting stuff, then go to the airport, fly to Rome, and if your arrival at the hotel is before 9PM, you still have time for a late food grub and/or a pleasant night walk without any goals or set itinerary. Sleep, wake up at 6.30AM, enjoy your hotel breakfast and leave to the airport.
Other alternative is to book a hotel at Ostia, which is by the coast, and a very short taxi ride from Fiumicino airport (doesn't involve getting through Rome at all!) for that last night. Or, if you find a flight leaving Catania after 9PM or so, just book an airport hotel and wake up a little later the day of departure.
That would give me much more peace of mind than waking up a tad before 4.00 in Catania to rush to the airport and hope everything works to the clock.
Just in case the others haven't convinced you, I'll add my voice to the chorus. I have zero tolerance for risk when it comes to making international flight connections. Too many unpredictables can disrupt one's plans . . . weather, mechanical problems, earthquakes, civil disturbances, etc. Do as the previous posters have suggested. Get to Rome (or Ostia) the night before your flight.
I agree to not chance it.
I have flown Norwegian on my last 2 European trips and like them (and their prices) very much, but they are stickers for their rules and will do NOTHING to help you if you miss your flight to Oakland except sell you an expensive last minute ticket!
Kaye, was going to check flight times but you don't say when you are flying. If it's in 2018 they have started direct flights from Rome to Oakland instead of having to connect in Oslo or Stockholm. Most but not all direct flights are in the afternoon which would give you plenty of time to catch the Oakland flight. When I dud the RS Sicily tour I spent a night in Rome before flying home the next day. But as others have said be careful with separate tickets, delays could cause that not to work.
