Orvieto to FCO

1. It is difficult to say if 1st class on a regionale is really any better. First, no reservations, the ticket simply allows you to sit in those cars. The cars tend be nicer/newer than second class, sometimes with more room, but the main benefit, is likely to be that they are less crowded than second class.

2. You can buy your ticket for the LE from just about any of the ticket machines, or a window. Absolutely, yes, it must be validated, that run is popular for ticket inspectors to work, no sense in making a 50 euro donation on your way out of Italy.

3. I don't recall a great deal of things to do at the terminal, I would be more inclined to spend a little time in Rome, maybe have and early dinner before heading to the airport.

Unsolicited advice: Since you have the time, and if lugging your suitcase with you is not an issue, you could take a bus down towards the forum, campo di fiori, the jewish ghetto, or the Trastevere to have a meal and brief walk, then continue on to the Trastevere Station. From there, you can catch the local train to FCO for less than half the price of the LE.

Yes, first class is a little roomier, which might make it easier to store your luggage.
You can buy a ticket for the Leonardo Express where you buy the Orvieto to Rome ticket (presumably the Orvieto train station).
Yes, validate the ticket (it doesn't have a reserved seat number).
Duty-free window shopping, a drink or snack at one of the bars. I think there is a massage vendor but I'm not sure it's in Terminal 3.

Have you considered a taxi? I know that there's this website: http://www.airport-transfers-direct.com/rome-transfers/taxi-from-orvieto.html

Instead of going to Termini, your train stops at Tiburtina station first where you can change to a regional train to the airport. It gets to the airport at 17:48 and the total price of 15.10. And for another 3.75 for first class on the Orvieto-Tiburtina leg, how can you go wrong? There is also a train at 17:23 that gets in at 19:33. Is that too close?

Zoe, thanks, I will buy the Leonardo ticket in Orvieto. Great idea.

Michael, the price for a private transfer you suggested is only €195. I'll have to think about that.

Sam, I will consider the Tiburtina option. The problem is that there aren't enough trains from Orvieto to Rome!! I wonder if I'm allowing enough time with the later option. Arrive Tiburtina at 18.33, get the FCO train at 18.46 . . . 13 minutes (and I believe it's up and down flights of stairs to change platforms). Arrive FCO at 19.33 (if there are no delays) for a 22.15 flight I think it's just cutting it too closely for my peace of mind.

The benefit of going to Termini is that there are no stairs to negotiate. I remember there are tons of shops there, are there any restaurants? Maybe I could have an early dinner there, then continue on to the airport.

PS - yes, lugging bags around is an issue. So is getting lost in Rome, which I always do.

Yikes! I had no idea it would be THAT expensive.

There are a couple of fast food places on the ground floor at Termini and there's a restaurant upstairs as well - you can see it when you walk into the lobby of the station. If you get there early, another option would be to check your bags and walk to Piazza della Repubblica, there are some restaurants there (not great, but you can get dinner).

Meanwhile there is next to nothing in Tiburtina but a bunch of empty space. By the way, I assume they have plans for this station.

Thanks all. I am going to take Zoe's good advice. Buy a Leonardo ticket in Orvieto, then train to Termini. Check the bags, have a meal and/or a walk around. Then on to FCO and home to plan the next trip. Can't decide where to go in August, but that's another story.