We are flying to Rome with American Airlines then flying Ryan Air to Sicily, reversing the process on the way back. How much time do I need for the layover between flights to ensure I make the return American Airlines flight back to the US? Some of our group will be checking baggage. Is it correct they will need to go to baggage claim and then back through security to board the second leg of the flight? Thank you in advance for your help.
Posted by
Maryland
873 posts
If you have a connection that is not booked on one ticket you may want to play it safe on your return and come back to Rome a day early just in case. Also, If there are separate tickets the baggage usually needs to claimed at the intermediate stop and rechecked. If the trip is booked on one ticket it will be the airlines' responsibility to explain what you have to do.
Posted by
Washington DC
27369 posts
This would be way too risky for me. What will you do if RyanAir cancels the flight or makes a major change to the schedule after you buy the transatlantic ticket? I absolutely agree with the idea of spending the last night in Rome.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11405 posts
Is it correct they will need to go to baggage claim and then back through security to board the second leg of the flight?
Yes.
How much time do I need for the layover between flights to ensure I make the return American Airlines flight back to the US?
If you dislike the 'night before' advice, then I would think anything less than 5 hrs, is just like play craps in Vegas. Look at the price of your advance fare and today's walk up fare and decide how comfortable you are with paying that difference (assuming there would be seats available)
How much time are you allowing for the transfer TO Sicily? If you miss that fight, Ryanair likely will cancel the return flight as you were a 'no show' for the first flight. (assuming you are buying a r/t ticket vs 2 one way tickets)
Posted by
2569 posts
We did this on Delta and Ryan Air last month.
We flew to Rome and spent two nights. I would have done unconnected flight with four hours between flights but we arrived too late for that. We also did not have a direct flight (flew through Paris) which increases chances of things going wrong.
Do you all have direct flights to Rome?
We could have stayed one night but opted to stay two.
On way back we took a 7:40 pm flight out of Palermo to Rome and stayed near airport. There is no way I would take an unconnected flight before an international one. I am not willing to risk missing international flight.
With baggage checked you will have to leave secure area to retrieve it, and then go through security
again.
Ryan air allows you to pay extra to take carry onto flight. That is what we did.
I would also suggest that if you are going to take an unconnected flight on day of arrival that you buy your two legs to and from Sicily separately. That way if you miss your flight from Rome to Sicily, you won’t have your return to Rome cancelled.