Flying out of Rome - when to arrive?

[Flying mermaid]

We have a 7:15am flight from Rome to London on 24 April (a Friday if that makes any difference), flying BA. I have read that crowds make it a nightmare to get through security. We plan to stay at the airport Hilton, so can just walk to the terminal and passport control. What time would be "safe" to plan to arrive at the airport?

 

[blackcat20]

Agree with the nightmare crowds, the line snaked for miles. One creative old bloke would sneak into the next section of the line every time it went around a bend, and no one called him on it. I'd definitely give yourself a few hours minimum.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Agree with the nightmare crowds, the line snaked for miles. One creative old bloke would sneak into the next section of the line every time it went around a bend, and no one called him on it. I'd definitely give yourself a few hours minimum.

Thanks - I was thinking 2 hours, but then thought that might not be enough. Not good at getting up early, but we are flying through to Istanbul, so it was either this flight or getting into Istanbul at midnight.....

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

We have a 7:15am flight from Rome to London on 24 April (a Friday if that makes any difference), flying BA. I have read that crowds make it a nightmare to get through security. We plan to stay at the airport Hilton, so can just walk to the terminal and passport control. What time would be "safe" to plan to arrive at the airport?

we are on the 8.15am on May 8th staying in the centre if Rome the night before wondering now if I should change that closer to the airport

 

[Flying mermaid]

we are on the 8.15am on May 8th staying in the centre if Rome the night before wondering now if I should change that closer to the airport

It is about 1/2 hour from the city to the airport - if you don't mind getting up early, then the centre is fine. I have read some reviews where people have breezed through, but most seem to feel it is bad. We spent 5 nights in Rome in 2005 and security was bad then as well. We are staying in the Airport Hilton and they have a free shuttle to the city, so we plan to check in and then go into the city and spend some time and have an earlish dinner before heading back to the hotel for an early night and early start.... It appears to be an airport with challenges!

 

[TheRealTMA]

we are on the 8.15am on May 8th staying in the centre if Rome the night before wondering now if I should change that closer to the airport

Yiu can get to the airport by train from Rome easily but at the airport it can be mayhem. You need to allow at least three hours. Yes you can do it in less but if you are on one of those seemingly unexpected days (secondo i funzionari dell'aeroporto Roma) where, shock, actual passengers want to board planes and they have opened only one security lane, then a nice quiet wait air side in the lounge is very welcome.

Ps the new EK lounge at Fiumicino is eccellente.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Yiu can get to the airport by train from Rome easily but at the airport it can be mayhem. You need to allow at least three hours. Yes you can do it in less but if you are on one of those seemingly unexpected days (secondo i funzionari dell'aeroporto Roma) where, shock, actual passengers want to board planes and they have opened only one security lane, then a nice quiet wait air side in the lounge is very welcome.

Ps the new EK lounge at Fiumicino is eccellente.

thanks an airport hotel is looking better by the minute ! We are one world emerald but travelling with BA in Y so we will have access to the BA lounge ?

 

[Flying mermaid]

thanks an airport hotel is looking better by the minute ! We are one world emerald but travelling with BA in Y so we will have access to the BA lounge ?

Emerald will be fine .

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yiu can get to the airport by train from Rome easily but at the airport it can be mayhem. You need to allow at least three hours. Yes you can do it in less but if you are on one of those seemingly unexpected days (secondo i funzionari dell'aeroporto Roma) where, shock, actual passengers want to board planes and they have opened only one security lane, then a nice quiet wait air side in the lounge is very welcome.

Ps the new EK lounge at Fiumicino is eccellente.

ouch 3 hours - so 4:15? Or is early morning better - if we got there at 5:15 for a 7:15 flight or is that taking a risk? The BA lounge only opens at 6:15, so if we did get there at 4:15 and got through quickly there wouldn't be anywhere to go....

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Emerald will be fine .

thanks again. Look forward to hearing how you go at the hotel and airport security

 

[Flying mermaid]

I will post here and I am planning to do a trip report as well. Enjoy your travel

 

[TheRealTMA]

ouch 3 hours - so 4:15? Or is early morning better - if we got there at 5:15 for a 7:15 flight or is that taking a risk? The BA lounge only opens at 6:15, so if we did get there at 4:15 and got through quickly there wouldn't be anywhere to go....

Hmm. Ok I'd go for the 5:15. It's really hard to judge- that's the joy of Italy

Buona fortuna!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hmm. Ok I'd go for the 5:15. It's really hard to judge- that's the joy of Italy

Buona fortuna!

Thanks - here's to living dangerously.

 

[amaroo]

This is where a status match with TK starts looking like a good idea Hate early risers!

FCO-IST looks enticing!

Turkish Airlines Flight 1862

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   [TD="class: _Ucf"][TABLE="class: ts, width: 232"]
   [TR="class: vk_gy"]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Scheduled 11:20 am[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Terminal[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt, align: right"]Gate[/TH]
   [/TR]
   [TR]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_bk"]11:32 am[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy"]3[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy, align: right"]G14[/TD]
   [/TR]
   [/TABLE]
   [/TD]
   [TD][/TD]
   [TD="class: _Ucf"][TABLE="class: ts, width: 231"]
   [TR="class: vk_gy"]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Scheduled 2:45 pm[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Terminal[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt, align: right"]Gate[/TH]
   [/TR]
   [TR]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_bk"]3:00 pm[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy"]I[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy, align: right"]-[/TD]
   [/TR]
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   [/TD]
   [/TR]
   [/TABLE]

Looking forward to your TR - we've booked a 4 week Rome/Berlin/Paris soirée for later this year ... it's nice that CX allows you to book with QFFP

 

[Flying mermaid]

This is where a status match with TK starts looking like a good idea Hate early risers!

FCO-IST looks enticing!

Turkish Airlines Flight 1862

1. [TABLE="class: ts, width: 515"]
   [TR]
   [TD="class: _Ucf"][TABLE="class: ts, width: 232"]
   [TR="class: vk_gy"]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Scheduled 11:20 am[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Terminal[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt, align: right"]Gate[/TH]
   [/TR]
   [TR]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_bk"]11:32 am[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy"]3[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy, align: right"]G14[/TD]
   [/TR]
   [/TABLE]
   [/TD]
   [TD][/TD]
   [TD="class: _Ucf"][TABLE="class: ts, width: 231"]
   [TR="class: vk_gy"]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Scheduled 2:45 pm[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt"]Terminal[/TH]
   [TH="class: vk_txt, align: right"]Gate[/TH]
   [/TR]
   [TR]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_bk"]3:00 pm[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy"]I[/TD]
   [TD="class: vk_h vk_gy, align: right"]-[/TD]
   [/TR]
   [/TABLE]
   [/TD]
   [/TR]
   [/TABLE]

Looking forward to your TR - we've booked a 4 week Rome/Berlin/Paris soirée for later this year ... it's nice that CX allows you to book with QFFP

Yeah I know but I already have an AONE4 booked, so could add fco-Lhr-ist for minimal dollars after the cruise debacle....Still that is almost tempting, we are really not early risers. . I am looking forward to your Gallipoli report - if I can't be there I can read about it!

 

[RooFlyer]

Just checked my TR when I went through FCO last year, as I didn't recall any dramas and my TR didn't mention any. It was a mid afternoon flight, within the Schengen zone but the UK is outside of it, so you'll have a passport check. BA is Terminal 3, same as my Swiss flight.

Check-in at Swiss Airlines (business counters due to * Gold) easy, through security to the ‘Avia Partner’ lounge. Rome isn’t a *A hub, so this was it. Pretty basic food and drink and relatively small, although nice views out to the apron. I’d recommend any alternative if you are at the airport for any extended time. A new terminal pier is under construction (as has been the case at virtually every airport I’ve been on in this trip).

I looked at the airport web site to see how many 'international' departures are at about the same time, but couldn't find it - maybe you'll see it. You could double check at the hotel as well as ask there of course about time required, the night before.

Personally, I'd go for the 2 hour prior scenario.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just checked my TR when I went through FCO last year, as I didn't recall any dramas and my TR didn't mention any. It was a mid afternoon flight, within the Schengen zone but the UK is outside of it, so you'll have a passport check. BA is Terminal 3, same as my Swiss flight.



I looked at the airport web site to see how many 'international' departures are at about the same time, but couldn't find it - maybe you'll see it. You could double check at the hotel as well as ask there of course about time required, the night before.

Personally, I'd go for the 2 hour prior scenario.

Thanks - we have decided on 2 hours but will check with the hotel. The problem is it seems totally unpredictable. I have read of people who have breezed through and others who have spent over an hour in a line that didn't move at all. Good idea to check departures at that time - I will see what I can find for terminal 3.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Thanks - we have decided on 2 hours but will check with the hotel. The problem is it seems totally unpredictable. I have read of people who have breezed through and others who have spent over an hour in a line that didn't move at all. Good idea to check departures at that time - I will see what I can find for terminal 3.

2 hours before should be fine. IIRC BA have dedicated J counters at FCO, and security can be bad but you should get fast track from BA with your OWE status.

I've never had a problem in FCO, but it's not a memorable airport, that's for sure...

 

[Flying mermaid]

2 hours before should be fine. IIRC BA have dedicated J counters at FCO, and security can be bad but you should get fast track from BA with your OWE status.

I've never had a problem in FCO, but it's not a memorable airport, that's for sure...

Thanks for that - really didn't want to get there at 4:15 am!!

 

[kevrosmith]

I've currently got an EK F booking for later this year departing FCO on the 10pmish flight. Is the security challenges just an early morning thing, a certain terminal thing, or a certain travel class thing? Or should I be keeping this in mind for determining the time to arrive at the airport even on EK F (although, it sounds like I'll want to allow enough time to experience the EK Lounge.... Benissimo!)