We will be arriving on a Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m. from CLT on an AS flight in mid-September. Can I get a best estimate on the time to allow for passport control, luggage retrieval and the walk to the train station to take the Leonardo Express to Rome Termini. We will buy tickets for the LE upon arrival at the FCO station for the 32 minute trip and hope to take a train after 12:00 p.m. to Florence SMN which we would like to book in advance at a good fare for First Class. Is this a reasonable time estimate?
Also, any major difference between Italo and Frecciarosso trains on this route?
Posted by
Seattle
149 posts
We arrived at night - the passport control line was almost back to the end of the rope maze and it took just under an hour to clear, of course our bags were already waiting at that point. Even if it is that busy I still think you have enough time.
60 minutes for passport control, 15 minutes to get bags and walk to the station and buy tickets, wait for the train 15 minutes, 35 minutes on the train and 15 minutes at Termini to connect is altogether 2h20m.
At Termini the LE arrives on tracks at one edge of the station so you’ll want to allow at least 15 minutes to get off and navigate to your next train.
If your flight is on time or slightly late I think you would make a 12pm train departure. I suggest using the bathroom on the plane before landing and then walk as fast as possible to passport control. You likely have 150-250 other Americans on your flight, no sense falling behind them in the line.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11405 posts
from CLT on an AS flight
"AS" is the designation for Alaska Airlines; presumably you mean "AA", (American Airlines).
Given Sept. is hurricane season and flight disruptions are a reality, I would not cut it too close on the Rome-Florence train trip
Posted by
San Diego, California
5063 posts
If you have no flight delays? Check Flight Aware for the on-time dependability of your flight.
It all comes down to how well you handle frustration if you miss your pre- purchased train route.
Good luck!
Posted by
OP
Franklin, Tennessee
121 posts
I can delay train to Florence another hour for good measure. Know to use bathroom on plane 30 minutes before landing and hustle right to passport control after exiting plane. Thanks for the heads up on the track locations for both trains at aRome Termini.
Our flight is on American Airlines and thinking about hurricane possibilities is a good tip.
Posted by
Massachusetts
901 posts
I flew directly from Boston to Rome earlier in June. Arrived a bit before 7am local time. Passport control was through e-gates and took only a few minutes. Luggage retrieval did not take long either (maybe 15-20 minutes), I suspect because it was so early in the morning.