Our Airbnb host is telling us that if we leave by 5:30am (in a transfer he is arranging from Campo de Fiori), that we should get to FCO by 6am and make our 8am flight on British Airways, terminal 3. Does that sound right? There is a marathon the day we leave ( Sunday April 8th) but I don't believe streets will be shut down until after we are out of the area. From what I have read on this forum about FCO departures (alas, questions from 2008 and 2010), 2 hours is dodgy, but maybe not that early in the day? Our flight connects on to Chicago from Heathrow if that matters.
Posted by
Chicago
8229 posts
Be at the checkin counter by 6am That sounds right. It is busy at that hour.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16206 posts
90 min to 2 hours will be sufficient with time to spare.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
thanks so much guys!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23653 posts
You are fine with that time line. There is little action in the airport at that time. It may be busy with domestic flights but no international flights so you will be fine.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
good to know, thanks Frank!
Posted by
Anchorage, Alaska
108 posts
A year ago in March I had an early flight out of FCO on BA. I arrived 2 hours before the departure time and found a huge line of people trying to check in. It looked like there were multiple student groups waiting to check in. I hadn't seen a kiosk to check in so I got in line which was SLOW. Eventually a BA staff member came through the line asking if anyone just needed to drop off a bag, as they had a dedicated bag line. Luckily I had the BA app on my phone so I used it to check in and jumped to the drop off bag line behind 5 people. I arrived at the gate with plenty of time.
A couple of weeks ago, again with an early flight out of FCO with BA, I was prepared. I showed up two hours before departure time, used my phone to check in, and with only a carryon, I was at the gate with more than enough time. There were a lot of people in line to check in but not as bad as last year. Of course after I arrived at 6:00am for a 8:10am flight I found out that it had been cancelled and I had been rescheduled to 11:40am flight. So instead of a 5 hour layover in Heathrow it now became 1 hour. Heathrow Connections said it was a no go but everything worked out and I arrived at the gate for my Seattle flight just as they were getting ready to start early boarding.
Make sure you have the BA app - even if you don't have data on your phone you can check in via wireless.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you Davey!! My husband and I have the app, we will make sure our kids download it too to avoid that mess. Then we can just print the luggage tags at a kiosk. I appreciate your response.