I saw a couple other threads similar to this, but didn't want to take over that thread since my questions are slightly different. I'll start my questions here: Our family has 2 different flights leaving Rome. 1- One group leaves FCO about noon and flies directly to The US into Atlanta on Delta airlines So do we go 3hrs early and go to terminal 5? 2- Another group leaves FCO about 6:20am to Amsterdam on KLM airlines and then to the US into Minneapolis on Delta airlines
So does this group need to arrive at FCO as early as 3 hrs ahead? Since they do not go directly to the US and have a stop in the EU in Amsterdam do they just go into Terminal 3? There's no need for this group to go to Terminal 5, correct? Thank you to all with the knowledge! I feel so much better reading these threads. I also have been reading on the Ron In Rome blog as well.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23330 posts
Your assumptions are correct. Since the noon group is a direct flight to the US they start in Terminal 5 for processing to the US - checkin, security, etc., and then are bussed back to Terminal 3 behind security for departure. Three hours is recommended but it just depends on who is there. We had a Delta to JFK at noon last May and it took less than hour to got through Terminal 5. All the lines were short. Personally think two would be sufficient but to be safe you may want closer to 3 hrs. At 6:20 am, domestic flight, one and half to two hours would be sufficient. We have done that often. Just not that many flights at that time. And Terminal 3 is correct.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
26 posts
I can only speak from experience for your US Airways to Atlanta flight. Yes, allow as much time as possible. I left my hotel in Rome (2 minute cab ride from Termini) at 7:00 for my 11:15 flight. I missed my first train and arrived at Fiumacino at 8:30. I flew direct into Philly their other hub so I was probably in the same terminal as you at FCO. It was quite a cattle call getting there. Lots of shuttle busses, annoying lines to check in, check boarding pass, check bags, etc.... I didn't get to the actual gate until 10:30. They started lining everyone up to board about a half hour before the flight so you can see leaving over 4 hours ahead didn't give me a ton of wiggle room.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
Adrienne, Frank is correct as are you. Was in Italy for 3 weeks in July and we had an Alitalia flight from Rome to Mpls via Chicago on a Friday morning at 10 a.m., checking in at terminal 5. We were at the airport 2 1/2 hrs. early and the lines were very long. We got to the gate with just a few minutes to spare before they started loading the shuttle to take you back to terminal 3. We usually like to not feel so rushed. I would allow at least 3 hrs. but maybe this depends on what month you are traveling. On previous flights back to the U.S. we have always flown to Amsterdam, Paris or London and then onto Mpls. as that is our final destination and then didn't not have to claim our baggage, go through customs, recheck our bags, etc. This just adds to the stress of traveling when you are already tired. Ron in Rome has lots of good information. Love his sight! Have a good trip.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8170 posts
It's hard enough to fly straight back to the U.S., especially if you have to catch connecting flights to your final destination. But when you have to get up at 3:00 a.m., have a car service/taxi take you to the airport, check in and fly to another destination so you can sit around 3 more hours, it'll make for a very, very tiring trip. I would only fly out of Rome late a.m. to the U.S. from Rome. You'll arrive tired, but not like you've been beaten with a stick.
And getting thru FCO is not easy, as they're not the most efficient operation around.