I am traveling to Sardenia, Italy from the US on Continental and connecting to Air One in Rome for the flight to Alghero, Sardenia. Air One says I only need a one hour connection time. I am suspicious of this answer. Can I really collect my luggage, go through immigration and get over to the domestic terminal in one hour?
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
I travel through FCO often and would feel an hour is inadequate. First your flight on Continental has to be on time (or early). Next you have to walk in from C terminal, go through passport control, get your luggage, recheck, and dash to AA or A terminal - which is the far end of the huge building from the C terminal ... so that seems highly unlikely! Worse, if this is not a codeshare flight you would have to exit into the terminal, check in and go back through security - NO CHANCE of making this in less than 2 hours! Things here tend to move at a slower pace - especially check-in's and luggage delivery!
I've taken Continental flights from Newark and had to await 30-40 minutes for my luggage... so I would consider a later Air One flight --- or you can catch a train/shuttle to Civitavecchia and take the ferry over.
Posted by
OP
Hillsborough, NJ, usa
2 posts
Thanks so much for the insight. I suspected this was the case. I'll plan on booking the later Air One flight which leaves at 3:30. Do you know anything about the Air One Lounge? We'll need to find a place to crash for about 4-5 hours.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
You are right to be suspicious about time allowed to change planes. Usually the person giving advice is guessing.
There is no way to predict the time required for customs and immigration at ANY terminal. Much depends of the day of week and time of day.
I always allow an extra hour on average for changing flights. You may need more in Rome.
I just returned from a flight with 5 legs. DFW to Hawaii. Even allowing extra time, I barely had time to get to the gate for the announced departure time in two terminals and in LAX and in Honolulu.
Some times your gates may be half a mile apart.
But the worse is that after running between gates, my departing flights in each of the five changes were delayed from 40 minutes to over an hour!
None left on time; so I had lots of waiting time. And those were domestic flights!
That's why so many travelers say that travel is longer the fun it used to be.