I’m arriving in Rome from Dulles USA at 9:00 with a connection at 10:15 on ITA Air to Bari. With such a short connection should I carry on luggage or check luggage through thru to Bari. Has anyone recently connected in Rome. I understand the walk is about 30 minutes from arriving gate to departing gate. Will I need to collect my luggage in Rome then go to passport control as you would in the US. I just need the quickest way so I can possibly make the connection to Bari. Any help will be appreciated as I’m 74 and not very speedy.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16167 posts
If you are going to Bari with one ticket the luggage should be going through to BRI. Make sure when you check in that the agent places the label on your luggage saying FCO - BRI.
That means the luggage is going through to BRI. Unlike the US, in Europe you don’t go through Customs at the first port of entry. At the first Port of Entry you go through Passport Control (Immigration). No need to collect the luggage if you go somewhere else. Once at the final,destination, you go through Customs, however that is mist a walk through unless you have something to declare. It is possible (but extremely rare) that Customs officers (Guardia di Finanza in Italy, officers with gray uniforms) may randomly stop passengers going through without nothing to declare.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you for the information. So an hour and 15 minutes is feasible to get to my connection from gate 1 to gate 3.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11998 posts
Did you buy a single ticket from an airline?
Posted by
OP
6 posts
I’m not sure. I booked the flight with Lufthansa Air. I have one booking number but I fly with United on the trip to Rome then Alitalia Air connecting to Bari. I’m assuming they will give me two tickets one for each leg.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11998 posts
I have searched UAL, Lufthansa and skyscanner and cannot find a IAD-FCO-BRI routing that has a less than 10 hr stop in FCO.
Perhaps not knowing when this travel is has prevented my finding your flights,
ITA is part of the SkyTeam alliance; UAL and Lufthansa are in the Star Alliance program.
Perhaps a more knowledgeable person can comment , but I question that airlines in different 'programs' have a code-share arrangement to make your travel seamless such that your checked bags would automatically transfer in Rome.
If you have to go through passport control, retrieve your luggage, go to ITA check in and back through security to get to your flight to Bari, I do not see 75 minutes as enough time.
Hopefully I am missing something, otherwise you look dangerously thin on time in Rome
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you for your help. My trip is mid October. If I miss the flight ATA Air will not honor a rebook. I believe carry on would be the best bet since I might need to change airlines.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
I just checked and ITA is now part of the Sky Alliance along with Lufthansa and United. I feel somewhat better. Still questionable if I’ll make the connection.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11998 posts
Be sure your carry on conforms to ITA requirements (https://www.ita-airways.com/en_us/fly-ita/baggage/hand-baggage.html)
YOU ARE ALLOWED ONE ITEM OF HAND BAGGAGE WEIGHING NO MORE THAN 8 KG ( 17.6 lb) AND MEASURING NO MORE THAN:
55 cm HIGH ( 21.6 inches)
35 cm WIDE ( 13.8 inches)
25 cm DEEP ( 9.8 inches)
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you so much for that info. Looks like I’m going shopping and packing light.