Checking Luggage in Rome

Are you flying with one ticket?
If so, your luggage will be checked in at departure all the way to Milan. No customs will be done in Rome, only passport control (immigration) and you don't need to retrieve your luggage at all.

Also you don't specify which airport you are using in Milan.
Alitalia has at least one flight every hour on the hour to Milano Linate (LIN), but only 3 a day to Milano Malpensa (MXP). If you go to LIN, then it's not a problem. If your flight is late, Alitalia will put you in the next available which is very frequent.

i believe your luggage will be transported straight to rome

Emily, the original poster's destination is Milano, luggage will be checked through to there if flying on one ticket.

Hello! I booked my flight through Justfly .com. On my printed flight itinerary it looks like I have two "record locators." One is for US Airways and the other is for Alitalia. So, I think I will have two tickets. I will be flying from PHL airport to Milan LIN airport with a 1 1/2 hour layover in Rome. On the way home, I will be flying out of Milan LIN with a layover in Paris before heading back to PHL airport. That is the same layover time of 1 1/2 hours.

The posted information regarding Alitalia airlines is helpful. I do hope I can figure out how to get around in these airports to make the best of my limited amount of time!

When I first arrive in Milan LIN (hopefully at the 12:10 p.m. arrival time) I need to take a bus to the Milan Central train station to catch a 4:10 train to Florence. I just want to add that this is my first time traveling solo! Thank you for any traveling tips you can provide!

"On my printed flight itinerary it looks like I have two "record locators." One is for US Airways and the other is for Alitalia. So, I think I will have two tickets."

No, it sounds like you made this booking all on one ticket (thank goodness). When there are two airlines involved, each one gives you a record locator number, but it's the same ticket. If you have to deal with Alitalia (say, to select your seat, or if there's a problem) use their number; if you're dealing with US Airways, use their number.

What being on one ticket means is that not only will you not have to deal with luggage in your connecting airports, but if you miss your connection because of a late arrival, your airlines are responsible for putting you on the next available plane at no extra cost.

As Roberto says, when you check in in Philadelphia PHL, your luggage should be tagged LIN for Milan Linate (double check to be sure). If this is done, you will not see your checked luggage in Rome at all. You will get off in Rome, go through passport control, then make your way from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 for your Alitalia flight (this is a short walk). At least, that's how it worked before the recent fire at the airport; so, just follow the directions and ask if you are lost or confused (don't waste any time if you're not sure - ask immediately).

Upon landing at Milan Linate, pick up your checked luggage and go through the "Green Channel - Nothing to Declare" line (assuming you have nothing to declare). Then catch the bus to Milano Centrale.

For your return flight, again makes sure your luggage is tagged PHL; you will not see see it in CDG. Your LIN to CDG segment is like a domestic flight in the US - no passport control. The bad news is that you will have to go through passport control in Paris, and will probably have to go through security again. CDG is huge; depending on where your flights arrive and depart; you may have quite a run through the airport. I see that Alitalia will arrive in 2F and US Airways will depart from 2A.

Here's the Easy CDG website's page on transfers: http://easycdg.com/passenger-information/connecting-flight-connections-paris-cdg-airport/transit-information/. Look around that site for more information; unfortunately, their page on transferring from 2F to 2A is down for maintenance, but I think it's probably faster to walk between them (through it's a fair walk) than to wait for a shuttle bus, unless the bus will enable you to avoid security. Again, if you're at all unsure, don't waste any time - keep asking where to go until you get the information you need.

And for your next trip; for getting to Florence, taking a train from Rome is just as easy as from Milan. It's actually easier, since there's a train station right in Rome's airport. So, you could have skipped the Rome to Milan segment. However, DON'T do this now; if you skip a segment, the airlines will void the rest of your ticket! So, you're stuck with going to Milan to go to Florence - this time.

This is such great information! Thank you so much! I am ever so grateful to you for taking the time to respond to my question! I feel a bit more comfortable knowing about my luggage, terminals, and my ticket. I will still call the Alitalia airlines to double check everything.

I wish I could have afforded the flight to Rome instead of Milan! The only reason I opted to fly to Milan was because the cost was much lower.

Zoe, right my bad, I meant Milan:)

Hello everyone!
I contacted Alitalia airlines and they confirmed all of your information! Thank you again! You are a great source of helpful information!!!!!