Flying on ITA San Francisco to Bari with a short connection (1 hr 15 min) at FCO. My questions are: 1) Is it best (i.e. faster) to take a carry-on or to check my luggage straight through SFO-Bari? 2) I know I will need to go through Passport Control. The best I can tell there are two functioning terminals at FCO. It looks like ITA international flights use Terminal 3 and domestic flights use Terminal 1 but this is not clear based on my search. Does anyone know the distance between the two terminals? Thanks.
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1126 posts
You are correct, Terminal 1 is for domestic and intra-EU flights; Terminal 3 is for international, ex-EU flights. Passport control is very quick. Be sure to follow the U.S. flag to the self-scan line (assuming you have a U.S. passport.) The other lines are for non-EU citizens requiring visas or EU citizens. It’s highly visible and simple
The terminals are less than a 5-minute walk apart. Arriving at T3, go through passport control, exit onto the sidewalk, turn left and it’s really just a few minutes’ walk. And no way to make a wrong turn after that first left.
Getting through security in Terminal 1 is so easy that you won’t believe it until you see it. I generally don’t even have to slow down. Scan your boarding pass, put your stuff on the x-ray belt, walk through, pick up your stuff and keep going. I’ve done it from sidewalk to gate, with a bathroom stop, in under 15 minutes consistently.
I would be very comfortable with 1:15 for a connection at FCO. I have had consistently good experiences there, as have my visiting family and friends. Air travel can always go sideways, but FCO is generally very reliable and easy to maneuver through. Your biggest risk is a possible flight delay from SFO.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1625 posts
Arriving at T3, go through passport control, exit onto the sidewalk, turn left and it’s really just a few minutes’ walk.
If you are traveling on one ITA ticket, check your bags through to Bari - you should be able to reach your Bari flight staying airside. Just be sure to have your boarding pass for the Bari flight.
The terminal designations at FCO are largely academic, and most applicable to where you check in - it's really one big building with several gate areas. So follow signs for connections and your departing gate - you should encounter passport control along the way.
https://www.ita-airways.com/en_us/fly-ita/airports/rome-fiumicino-airport/border-checks.html
Posted by
OP
14 posts
I also posted this question on Fodors. Overall, there does not seem to be consensus (carry-on vs checking luggage straight through). I have plenty of time to decide as I am not leaving until early September. Who know, with any luck the flight times might change to my benefit. Thank you everyone. I appreciate all your comments and especially the ITA link.