Our trip to Italy is next week. The last city is Rome, and our flight home from there is non stop to O'Hare on Alitalia. Bags will be checked for the flight. We've pre-arranged a car ride to FCO from our Rome hotel. The flight is at 9:30 a.m..
The hotel said that they'll have the car pick us up at 7:15, as it's a 45 minute ride to the airport, and arrival by 8 a.m. will be plenty early. I'm nervous about that advice. I typically hear that for international travel, you should arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. Some say that's too conservative, but certainly 2 hours. Our hotel thinks 1.5 hours is sufficient. Are we safe in taking the advice of our hotel, which presumably gets this question all the time? Or should we insist that the car get there earlier? If so, when?
Posted by
Chicago
8126 posts
I think getting to FCO at 7:30 or 2 hours before would be best. But they seem to not have had any bad feedback on their standard advice they are giving you
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Three hours is how early the airlines suggests being there. I wouldn't give it any less than that and since it's an early morning flight I would give it a little more if you can. The lines for check in and security can be horrendous and you don't want to risk missing your flight. Have the driver pick you up at 6am at the absolute latest. I cannot imagine getting to the airport with only 1.5 hours to spare. Security alone could take that long.
Look at it this way, if you're late and there are really long lines you could easily miss your flight. If you're early and there are no lines it gives you time to get some breakfast and do a little shopping before your flight. I'd rather wait for the plane than miss it.
Donna
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15874 posts
It depends on the airline.
90 minutes might be sufficient, but security procedures to the US often require a bit more time than other destinations. I would recommend 2 hours for US bound flights with Alitalia.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11731 posts
90 minutes sounds scary short to me.
If you are too early, its just a bit of boredom.
If you are even just a bit late, its really ugly
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I would never cut it closer than two hours, even with online checking the day before.
Posted by
Orlando
20 posts
On May 22 we flew out of FCO on American leaving at 11:00 am. We left the hotel by taxi at 7 am, arrived FCO about 7:40. The departure terminal was almost empty. It took us less than 20 minutes to check bags, get through security and passport control. We basically had 2.5 hours to relax until we boarded. I think the lines and wait times would have been longer if we arrived at 9:30 am for the same flight. I think we could have arrived 2 hours ahead and still had plenty of time, but I think you should set your hotel departure by your own level of comfort.