Confused about Rome airport (FCO) security/customs for US citizens

You use terminal five ONLY for flights directly to the US. Therefore, you will use terminal 3 as a normal domestic (within Europe) flight. With an early flight at 8 AM, two hours will be more than adequate for check-in and security. We have always found the airport to be fairly well organized with plenty of people speaking English and providing assistance if needed. Sometimes it can be very crowded with long security lines but that is much later in the day. You will be fine. It is a typical airport. No better or worse than most of the other European airports.

amazonblue,

As Frank mentioned, your first flight will be a European connector, so you'll be leaving from Terminal 3. That's easily accessed from the rail station where the Leonardo Express arrives (DON'T forget to validate!).

Last time I departed from FCO, I found that the process was even more automated than on past occasions. You may have to check-in at a Kiosk before dropping your luggage. I'd suggest allowing a bit more time, as I've found that things don't always go smoothly at FCO.

Are both your flights booked on the same ticket (ie: a code share)? That will determine whether you'll have to collect your luggage at LHR and then re-check it.

Happy travels!

Your flight from FCO to LHR is an inter-EU flight. Thus, you will be departing from Terminal 3. No big or out of normal issues at Terminal 3. Allow 2 hours for check-in. Terminal 5 is used for flights departing directly to the USA and Israel. Forget Terminal 5 for this BA flight.

Thanks for the help!

I'm glad it will be a simpler experience than I thought and I can go directly to Terminal 3.

I'm flying home on Air New Zealand later that day, 4pm, so I have plenty of cushion for any mild delays and to collect my luggage. But it will be a long day home.

I start my trip with a few days in London before my Italian tour and enjoyed the ANZ flight on a previous holiday.

Flown out of FCO twice, and on both occasions, it appeared like any other busy and bustling airport. Did fly out of terminal 5 (since I had a direct flight to US), and the only thing that stood out was the military looking men with really big guns walking the catwalk overhead. Folks working at the airport tended to speak English pretty readily.

After you have gone through security and are airside you will then have to go through a separate passport control point which is located on the way to the gates used for UK bound flights. Queues can build up there so allow plenty of time to reach your gate before it closes.

One difference you will notice compared to US airports: At home we're used to terminals where airlines all have their own, clearly-marked check-in counters. At FCO there are rows and rows of numbered check-in counters, that all look alike, with no airline logos on them. When you first walk into the terminal, look for your flight number on the TV screen, and it will tell you the number of the check-in counter you will use.

Just to consolidate some of the above...First, on leaving from FCO you will be exiting the Schengen Zone, so after check-in and security, you will go through Passport Control, they may stamp your passport at that time, hopefully you were not in the Schengen Zone for more than 90 days, and you are on your way.

LHR is really just a Transit Airport in your itinerary, there is no passport control or immigration (I suppose no Customs as well) that you need be concerned with, EU/non-EU has nothing to do with your Trip, but it seems I often get caught in a security check, especially if changing terminals, plus there may be additional security associated with boarding the flight to the US. You will likely have to show your passport, but as part of the Security check.

On return to LAX, you will pick up your bags, then go through Immigration and then Customs. If LAX is your final detination, your out of there, if you have a connecting flight, you still claim your bags and go through the process, but then recheck your bags for your connecting flight and then go through Security again.