We'll be taking the Best of Sicily Tour in November flying into Rome and then connecting to Palermo. Since we're coming in on American Airlines, I believe we'll arrive in Terminal 3. Then we'll probably take Aeroitalia or ITA to Palermo, both of which leave from Terminal 1. Since I have never connected through Rome, I'm not sure how much time to allow. Currently I'm considering flights that would give us a 2 hour connection time. Will we have to deal with any sort of passport control? Can we get from Terminal 3 to 1 without leaving the secure area? Check in at a Aeroitalia or ITA ticket counter outside of security? Any suggestions/help will be appreciated. Grazie!
Jane
Posted by
Atlanta
5236 posts
...considering flights that would give us a 2 hour connection time.
Personally, I'd be more comfortable with a longer connection time. It's not at all unusual for flights of that length to be late arriving due to late departure, weather, and/or mechanical factors. With a longer connection time, you might be bored if you arrive on time, but to me that's better than stressing about missing a connection.
Posted by
CA, USA
1254 posts
You should spend the arrival nite in Rome, then fly out the next morning. We flew ITA from Rome to Palermo this past fall and, as you've no doubt seen from their schedule, there aren't a bunch of daily flights. Two, if I remember correctly. So it doesn't take much of a delay in your flight from the US (or having them reschedule it a few weeks before your trip) for you to be stuck in Rome and not even have a hotel.
And since it appears that you're buying two separate tickets you'll need to retrieve your luggage if you checked any bags, go thru arrival passport control in any event, then get to your new flight. It's a lot to do even if you have the full 2 hours.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
I don't think AA will check you through Palermo. AA are not ITA or Aeroitalia partners. If you have to re-check in at Rome, then 2 hours is short.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1203 posts
I'm seeing six nonstops on ITA FCO to Palermo in November.
It looks like the typical AA routing to Palermo is via Heathrow on British Airways - that would avoid FCO entirely.
If FCO to Palermo is on separate tix, two hours would be tight, and perhaps unlikely if you're checking bags. You will be arriving in the E gate area, which is technically part of Terminal 3. Note that it is a very long walk from the gates to passport control - when I was there in Nov., it took 2 or 3 minutes to go through immigration using the automated passport scanners.
If you were on a single ticket, you would most likely be able to proceed to Terminal 1 staying airside. But on separate tickets, it looks like you would have to check in at the ITA desk.
Both Delta and United could put you directly onto an ITA flight.
We found FCO to be high-tech and quite efficient.