Unfortunately it's that time when I have to think about coming home. Its weird to think that i've been here since August 10th!! Anyway, does anyone know what time FCO opens its doors? We are staying at the Airport Hilton that is connected via moving sidewalk & have a 6:10am flight out Memphis, with a connection in AMS.
Any information is appreciated!
I'm sure the hotel could tell you that. They must deal with that question all the time.
Pick up the phone and call the hotel concierge and ask your questions.
forgive me for coming to a 'helpline' instead of spending a euro a minute on a cell phone...very helpful!
Most terminals at international airports are open around the clock, or at the very minimum at the crack of dawn. But what is most important is what time the check-in desk for your airline opens. For that info it is best to check you airline's web site or call them directly: http://tinyurl.com/6avlmy
FCO is open 24 hours (I believe they have a 24 hour currency exchange inside, so I'm assuming the airport would be open!). But, like Michael said, the airline counter hours may vary, although they should be staffed in advance of your flight.
Sorry you have to come home - hopefully the Italy withdrawal won't be too bad on you!
" forgive me for coming to a 'helpline' instead of spending a euro a minute on a cell phone...very helpful! "
Stop your whining. Lucky you just spent nearly 4 months in Tuscany. lol
I figured it would be open 24/7, or at least the door will be unlocked. I can't seem to get the info from KLM/NWA regarding when the check in gates open - all budget airlines open 2 hours prior and that seems to be the same with all airlines, but i've always been there 3 hours ahead of time for over-the-pond flights.
and i'm still in denial, I don't want to leave and go back to reality :(
The tunnel connection from the Hotel to FCO opens at 5 AM.
For Luthansa, the check in agent started at 4AM and by 5 AM there were about 5 of them.
The Hotel provides a free shuttle for people who have early flights (like we did, a 6:50 flight)
Perfect. We'll set up a shuttle for around 4am or so for our 6:10 flight.
Thanks for the help!
Forgive me, JB, but you did say "we are staying" at the airport hotel. You didn't say "we will be staying", and since you gave no indication of when exactly you were flying, I assumed you were already there. And if you were currently at the hotel, it wouldn't have cost anything to call the desk. I wasn't trying to be snippy, and there was no need for your rude comment.
sorry for the confusion.
We are leaving on 12/19. We are scheduled to stay at the airport Hilton hotel. Arrangements have been made to stay at the hotel, we just have to figure out when we can check in for our 6:00am flight, and what time the airport will open up in the morning.
We travel through FCO often and the terminals are open 24 hours. If you have a 6:10 flight then you're probably on the KLM to AMS. That flight will probably leave from Terminal B. Have flown that a few times!
You can walk over to the terminal about 4:15-4:25 AM as most KLM flights open their "desks" about 2 hours before a flight. We flew to Bulgaria over the T-day holiday and were at the terminal at 4:15 for a 6 AM flight and the desk opened as we arrived. (was not KLM)
Often on these EURO flights only one or two desks are open and lines can get long. Also NOTHING in the terminal area really opens until 7 AM so grab something at the hotel before you walk over!
Many friends of ours stay at the Hilton (on points mostly) to avoid the "commute" in the early AM!
Last week, we went through B Terminal and had to go through passport control after you clear security (that was NOT the way it used to be?)... Hopefully with a 5 month stay you have the documentation necessary. Often in the AM these guys are very bored, but sometimes they can be pretty observant.
Good luck!
Ciao,
Ron
Ciao Ron,
Grazie! That helps me a lot. I was recently flying from Bruxelles to Pisa and we had passport control in Pisa as well...we also had this in Athens, Greece on the way back to Milano.
and yes you are correct, we are on the Rome>AMS flight and then its off to the US. Unfortunately, due to not being about to leave Firenze until 9:49, we won't arrive to Roma termini until 11:23, so we miss the last train to FCO, so we'll have to take a cab. If the terminals are open 24hours we might just tough it out and sleep in the airport - it seems almost useless to pay for the Hilton and only be in the room for 3 hours...
thanks again for the help!
JB,
As stated above, we often fly early, and yes there are many people sleeping in the terminal.
The safest place we found is AFTER clearing security, head to the C7-C11 gates. It's a separate wing, away from the shopping (which is all closed anyway). What makes this safer is there is a Customs desk which seems to be always manned at the start of this wing. Also seats there DO NOT have rails between them so you can sretch out!
I would definitely GET THROUGH security before I crashed for the night. In the main terminal, especially during cold weather, you may have the company of a few homeless folks. So if you're looking to just "nap," definitely GET THROUGH security.
