We are looking forward to our next RS tours of Sicily and the South of Italy in April 2016. Will be flying into Rome on AA #720 (utilizing AA miles for the flight) and are scheduled to arrive at 9:45am on 4/9/16. Due to AA not flying into Palermo, we booked a separate ticket flight on Alitalia #AZ1799. The Alitalia flight departs FCO for Palermo at 2:55pm. This should give us plenty of time to make the Alitalia flight but I am trying to wrap my mind around the steps we will need to make for the transfer.
On our RS tours, we check one bag and carry on the second.
Would love feedback on collecting our bags, going through customs and checking in with Alitalia for the flight to Palermo.
Thank you in advance for your advice! Tess
Posted by
Green Bay
20131 posts
It might be easier to fly into Rome a day earlier and spend the night there to do jet lag recovery, then a morrning flight to Palermo next day. It makes me nervous to do a connection with is not linked on the same ticket. If your inbound flight is delayed (for any number of reasons), you are on your own to buy a new ticket.
Posted by
Central Connecticut, USA
1103 posts
The following website has some helpful information on navigating FCO:
www.roninrome.com/transportation/air-travel/leonardo-da-vinci-airport-fco
It appears you will have to switch terminals from T-3 to T-1
By the way, we are also on the Alitalia flight from Rome to Palermo on 4/9 (joining the RS Sicily tour on 4/10). We are spending a couple of days in Rome before the flight.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
The steps are straightforward. You land in Rome, go through immigration (passport control), and pick up any checked bags. You then got to Terminal 1 (I don't know if there's any internal connection - we simply walked outside between them, which takes less than 10 minutes). You check in for your Alitalia flight, then go through security, then go to your boarding gate.
Assuming your plane is on time (actually, unless it's really late), you'll have time to get some lunch, and if you want, buy a SIM card (all the Italian cell phone carriers have stores in Terminal 1, after security).
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
I did the same flights a few years ago from Calif. to Palermo - very easy. I didn't have such a long layover in Rome (can't remember what is was exactly - but plenty of time to go to another terminal to catch my Alitalia flight.)
I didn't have the luggage issue - because I did carry-on, but I'm sure you will be fine.
Hope you Enjoy the tours. When I went, it was a single tour with RS of Sicily and Southern Italy - ending in Rome. Our guide was Alfio and he was a fantastic guide.
Posted by
OP
68 posts
Thanks to all for your feedback. Happy Travels