Anyislandwilldo Posted September 20, 2023 #1 Share Posted September 20, 2023 I read on our Facebook page that you need to get to the FCO airport 3 hours in advance for your flight home. The author said it was a nightmare to get through ticketing, then another passport check and so on making it sound like it's a real nightmare to get through. Has anyone else encountered such a nightmare at the airport? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted September 20, 2023 #2 Share Posted September 20, 2023 Been discussed here many times. FCO is not an efficient airport. Just a fact. If you are exiting the EU, you will have a passport check at any EU airport. If you are flying non-stop to the US, you will have an additional security check. Also just a fact frequently discussed here. "Ticketing "? You probably mean checking in your bags, right? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted September 21, 2023 #3 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Personally, I would not say FCO is a "nightmare" on a normal day, any more so than any large airport. I get through it at least as efficiently as I have in any other MAJOR airport I've transited in the last 2 years including Atlanta (ATL), Paris (CDG), London Heathrow (LHR), LaGuardia (LGA), and Tokyo Haneda (HND). Amsterdam (AMS) was far worse. Of course, that was last summer in the heat of the luggage pile-ups.... At any rate, I allow 3 hours prior to departure for any International flight. It's what most airlines and airports recommend. As you saw from my other post, it's really not that complicated. The only "extra" step that US airports don't require is the passport check prior to leaving the country, and that is the shortest bit. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girr Posted September 21, 2023 #4 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Others may disagree, but since the terminal has been remodeled, I'm finding it a lot more "user friendly". However, I'd still allow three hours. On our flight home in July, arriving close to three hours, our check-in gate had opened, and we quickly breezed through the initial check-in, but then ran into a major problem (DH's electric wheelchair). Thinking I'd get the problem fixed in just a few minutes I sent DH and GD ahead using airport wheelchair service. Those two were in the Delta lounge less than 45 minutes from time of arrival at airport! Now, I had to go the multiple layers getting his chair checked in (FAA approved, and we travel with it often), but Italian officials did not want to accept the chair. By the time I got done checking in the chair they were starting to board the plane. I could have had a problem if I'd arrived later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anyislandwilldo Posted September 21, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted September 21, 2023 On 9/20/2023 at 1:22 PM, CruiserBruce said: Been discussed here many times. FCO is not an efficient airport. Just a fact. If you are exiting the EU, you will have a passport check at any EU airport. If you are flying non-stop to the US, you will have an additional security check. Also just a fact frequently discussed here. "Ticketing "? You probably mean checking in your bags, right? Yes, checking our bags. Can we use a kiosk to print out out boarding passes? Do we still need to go to drop off our bags to the ticket agent? Or is there a separate area to drop off luggage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted September 21, 2023 #6 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Just now, Anyislandwilldo said: Yes, checking our bags. Can we use a kiosk to print out out boarding passes? Do we still need to go to drop off our bags to the ticket agent? Or is there a separate area to drop off luggage? Sometimes you can get a boarding pass through the kiosk, sometimes you can't -- not sure why, but sometimes they want a person to actually verify your documents (e.g., passport). There is usually one line just for luggage drop-off. One for main cabin. And one for First Class and High level FF'ers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anyislandwilldo Posted September 21, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Just now, cruisemom42 said: Sometimes you can get a boarding pass through the kiosk, sometimes you can't -- not sure why, but sometimes they want a person to actually verify your documents (e.g., passport). There is usually one line just for luggage drop-off. One for main cabin. And one for First Class and High level FF'ers. Thank you again!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail-s Posted September 25, 2023 #8 Share Posted September 25, 2023 We flew out of there in July. We had a 10:30 flight so we were there a bit after 7am. It was busy, but I've seen worse. I paid for the Fast Track which allowed us to jump ahead of the lines a bit. Staff were pleasant and efficient. Have all of your ducks in a row and you'll be fine. It was the people searching for their passports or getting in the wrong lines or having things you can't fly with that were causing the problems, not the airport itself. https://www.romeairports.com/fiumicino_en/fast-track.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anyislandwilldo Posted September 26, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted September 26, 2023 On 9/25/2023 at 9:02 AM, gail-s said: We flew out of there in July. We had a 10:30 flight so we were there a bit after 7am. It was busy, but I've seen worse. I paid for the Fast Track which allowed us to jump ahead of the lines a bit. Staff were pleasant and efficient. Have all of your ducks in a row and you'll be fine. It was the people searching for their passports or getting in the wrong lines or having things you can't fly with that were causing the problems, not the airport itself. https://www.romeairports.com/fiumicino_en/fast-track.html Wow!! Thank you so much for this info. I will definitely be signing up for this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro ergo Posted September 30, 2023 #10 Share Posted September 30, 2023 On 9/25/2023 at 10:02 AM, gail-s said: I paid for the Fast Track which allowed us to jump ahead of the lines a bit. Was it worth it? How does it work? The website is a little sparse with information, would love a first hand account---thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail-s Posted October 1, 2023 #11 Share Posted October 1, 2023 I wasn’t even sure if we were going to use it because when we walked through the door it didn’t seem packed. As soon as we got through the checkpoint though things got tied up. Thankfully we were able to slip into the line next to us for the fast pass and bypass the very long lines of people checking their bags. You just need to keep your eyes open when you enter the terminal for the correct line. When we were there (flying delta) it was over to the left. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro ergo Posted October 1, 2023 #12 Share Posted October 1, 2023 46 minutes ago, gail-s said: Thankfully we were able to slip into the line next to us for the fast pass and bypass the very long lines of people checking their bags Does that mean it doesn't work if you have to check a bag? Unfortunately we will be checking bags on this trip. Also, thank you for sharing your experience--it's always helpful to hear from people who have actually done something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 1, 2023 #13 Share Posted October 1, 2023 51 minutes ago, gail-s said: I wasn’t even sure if we were going to use it because when we walked through the door it didn’t seem packed. As soon as we got through the checkpoint though things got tied up. Thankfully we were able to slip into the line next to us for the fast pass and bypass the very long lines of people checking their bags. You just need to keep your eyes open when you enter the terminal for the correct line. When we were there (flying delta) it was over to the left. Fast pass is not related to checking your bags, is it? Fast pass is related to security, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail-s Posted October 1, 2023 #14 Share Posted October 1, 2023 We got into the line before we checked our bags I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail-s Posted October 1, 2023 #15 Share Posted October 1, 2023 32 minutes ago, Hydro ergo said: Does that mean it doesn't work if you have to check a bag? Unfortunately we will be checking bags on this trip. Also, thank you for sharing your experience--it's always helpful to hear from people who have actually done something! Nope. We were checking bags. You need to look for the sign as soon as you get into the airport. There’s only one place where you get into the line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro ergo Posted October 1, 2023 #16 Share Posted October 1, 2023 44 minutes ago, gail-s said: Nope. We were checking bags. You need to look for the sign as soon as you get into the airport. There’s only one place where you get into the line. ah, ok, I think I get it. So you need to get in the fast pass lane FIRST before you do anything else...then you can check bags, passports, go through security... thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 1, 2023 #17 Share Posted October 1, 2023 13 minutes ago, Hydro ergo said: ah, ok, I think I get it. So you need to get in the fast pass lane FIRST before you do anything else...then you can check bags, passports, go through security... thank you! That doesn't make sense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro ergo Posted October 1, 2023 #18 Share Posted October 1, 2023 44 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said: That doesn't make sense... Ah geez... you're right. I didn't even think this through, but that would mean separate ticketing counters for every airline. It must be after baggage and check-in and before security...which makes sense since it's offered by the airport and not the airline. Can I blame a long weekend of last minute planning?? 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted October 5, 2023 #19 Share Posted October 5, 2023 I plan on doing the Fast Pass on our return from Rome. Is it a q code that I need on my phone? Is is something I can print? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro ergo Posted October 8, 2023 #20 Share Posted October 8, 2023 On 10/5/2023 at 11:56 AM, phabric said: Is it a q code that I need on my phone? Is is something I can print? It's a QR code,,,you can print and/or have the confirmation email available on your phone (I'm assuming they will accept either, but I haven't done it myself yet at the airport) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted October 9, 2023 #21 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Thanks I will print and have on phone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpacemanSpiff Posted October 20, 2023 #22 Share Posted October 20, 2023 We went through FCO on a United flight to IAD (and beyond). Other than being busy at the United counter, we found it to be basically pretty efficient. We got there slightly over three hours early, checked the bags and worked our way through passport control, etc., and had plenty of time for a coffee and croissant prior to boarding. (Compare and contrast to IAD, where we got to passport control right at shift change and within minutes of two other large international flights -- thank goodness for Global Entry! our line was about 25 people instead of the 600 or so in the regular line -- and it took a long time for the luggage to come through to be rebooked.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaOhio Posted October 25, 2023 #23 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Excuse my ignorance, first time to Europe…what is this Fast Pass? Is it the same as global entry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 25, 2023 #24 Share Posted October 25, 2023 47 minutes ago, GrandmaOhio said: Excuse my ignorance, first time to Europe…what is this Fast Pass? Is it the same as global entry? No, not the same as Global Entry. FCO has a program to expedite your travel through security for a fee. Did you check out the link in post #8? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaOhio Posted October 25, 2023 #25 Share Posted October 25, 2023 1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said: No, not the same as Global Entry. FCO has a program to expedite your travel through security for a fee. Did you check out the link in post #8? No, sorry, I missed that. Thank you for pointing it out. I think maybe we will do this for our trip next year. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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