I'm flying from Catania to Rome on Alitalia, arriving at 7:20 am. Then I have to catch a United flight to Newark that leaves at 9:55 am. I think if I don't have check bag, I can make it, assuming no flight delay from Catania. Would you confirm that please?
These are 2 separate tickets, and I don't believe Alitalia and United have an Interline check bag agreement, but if I misunderstood, please let me know.
Thank you very much for your help!
You will make the other flight if the first flight leaves on time.
When flying on separate tickets it is always better to show up the night before if you are counting on the first flight to get you to the flight that would cost you (i.e. your flight back from Europe) more if you missed it.
As an experienced traveler I would only take risk like you are taking, if I was flying standby for free as an employee of United, and could afford to spend another night or 2 in Rome.
United (Star Alliance) and Alitalia (Sky Team) are not part of the same international airline alliances so they would not have an agreement.
I don’t know if Alitalia has an Interlining baggage agreement with UA, however it doesn’t hurt to ask in Catania at the check in desk if they can ticket your bag all the way to EWR. If they don’t you’ll have to retrieve and recheck in FCO. If you fly with carry on only, then the issue is moot.
You are supposed to be in check in 3 hours before a flight to the US and so if your flight in, already tight, is half an hour late then there you are. you have to get from the arrival terminal to the international departure terminal and of course you don't get off the plane the instant it touches down -- so you are already looking at not getting there at the recommended time for check in and security. I would not take this risk on a high stakes flight. Always be in the town of departure the night before a high stakes flight. Yes things can go perfectly but if they don't you are looking at a very expensive walk up ticket and travel insurance does not cover missed connections that are essentially your own fault for bad planning.
Earlier this year, AFTER immigration at FCO, I experienced it to be a very brisk 25 minute walk from where my international flight landed at FCO to the terminal where I was boarded an Alitalia flight to Trapani. Doing that in reverse, with stops for passport control and security could make for a tight connection. There is also this factor: From time to time, with no warning, Mt. Etna will belch enough ash into the air to cancel all flights in/to Catania for a few days. Doesn't happen often, but does happen enough to have affected some travelers on a RS tour of Sicily last year (as noted in this forum). Just sayin'. For this reason, when Sister and I were departing Catania to connect in Rome for our onward flight home (to US), we booked a couple of nights in Rome, just to be on the safe side. I would concur with the suggestion to book your last night in Rome, so that you don't have to rely on Alitalia's timeliness and Mt. Etna's quietness to get you onto your homeward flight. There's also the issue that a 9:55 am departure doesn't mean you can be at the gate at 9:50. Generally boarding for international flights is cut off some 30 minutes or more before actual departure time. (Correct me please, someone, if you've experienced this differently.) That Catania-Rome ticket probably cost you approx. $100. Is it worth the gamble? If you've already booked all of these tickets: you could probably make this connection, but I am too cautious a traveler to bet on it myself.
Thank you all, for the advice. I'll try to change my ticket from Catania to Rome to the previous evening or try to pack light (I usually but I have to pack winter clothed because I'm staying in NY for a few days).
wwsiu, I also only had carry on, so would not have had to claim a bag from Alitalia, and then leave "security" to go out into the central hall to find the United desk and recheck the bag for the next flight. I would no way attempt the connection you propose if you have to do that. Do note that you will still have to pass through security again at one point, as you travel through the hallways and passages to the separate terminal where you will board your United flight.
Thank you, jmauldinuu, for your input. I'll rebook the Catania-Rome ticket. Cheers!
Another factor is not all planes park at the terminal. Some park at remote sites and you have to take a bus to the terminal.
You would need everything to work perfectly to be reasonably sure of making the transfer.
Getting to Rome the day/night before is HIGHLY recommended.
I won't push my luck and just bought a ticket for the evening before and booked one night at a hotel at the airport. Thanks!
Good for you listening to the advice you sought and received. Have a great trip.
That is smarter because no one mentioned that you would need to go through exit immigration (passport control) as part of the check in procedures for United.
I'm glad I changed the flight from Catania. I can sleep better now. Thanks to all!
