US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Unexpected layover in Rome (FCO)

I am booked on US, PHL-FCO, in Envoy for mid-May. At the time of booking, US also ticketed me one way on Alitalia from FCO to Venice. The Alitalia originally was scheduled to depart just under 2 hours after my arrival - perfect. Or so I thought. . .

Alitalia has now cancelled that flight and the next opportunity to get me to VCE is 12:55, roughly 4 1/2 hours after arriving in Rome. So. . . I am wondering what my options are for this layover?

I assume that my bags will be checked from PHL all the way to VCE so I won't have to worry about them (is that a correct assumption or will I have to retrieve them for customs and then recheck them with Alitalia - come to think of it, how the heck will that work?) Is there sufficient time to do ANYTHING in Rome? We have never been but we will be spending 4 nights later in the vacation. I understand that US doesn't have an arrivals lounge, but there is a Hilton that has some sort of a room. Is this room anything that the wife and I will find useful after the overnight flight? Is it a private room or just some public lounge with drinks and stuff? Is the Hilton close enough to make a vist worthwhile or will we spend more time getting there? Now that I think of it, while I am flying in Envoy, I used miles to upgrade Q tickets. Can I even use the facilities if I'm not a USAir club member or full envoy fare paying customer? (I'm pretty sure that my SP status will have ended by then - probably to be revived once the transatlantic miles post!)

Any other thoughts? A 4 1/2 layover may not seem like a lot for most of you savvy travelers, but the 9 hour flight over is enough to make me suicidal. . . .

Last time I was at FCO, customs / immigration was very quick. From there, the train to Rome is about another 15 minutes (on a tram to the maain terminal and a walk to the airport train station).

From FCO to Roma Termini (the main train station) is about a 30-35 minute non-stop ride on the aptly named Leonardo Express (of course, Express for Italian trains means slow). I tihnk it costs 12 euro each way. I'd say it would take 90 minutes by the time you were at Termini.

Unfortunately, the area around Termini isn't the most exciting area of Rome. But you can take the Metropolitana Line B a few stops to Colisseo and see the Colisseum and the forum. From there, just repeat to get back to FCO. Follow the signs from where the airport train leaves you off to the Metro. Be careful, pickpockets are rampant in this station as it's always very crowded.

The FCO train leaves Termini at 22 and 52 minutes past every hour from dedicated tracks on the far right.

You'd need to decide for yourself whether this is worth rushing around.

Eric

Edited to add: The scenario I scripted above probably is close to impossible to complete if you want to get back to FCO within 45 minutes of flight time...

[This message has been edited by haveric (edited Feb 16, 2004).]

Enjoy sitting around FCO. You don't have enough time to get to Rome, do anything and get back in time to catch your flight. The airport is about 30 miles from the city.....traffic is horrendous.

There're really nothing to see near the airport either. Have fun on the rest of your vacation!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by batboy:
....there is a Hilton that has some sort of a room. Is this room anything that the wife and I will find useful after the overnight flight? Is it a private room or just some public lounge with drinks and stuff? Is the Hilton close enough to make a vist worthwhile or will we spend more time getting there? ......Can I even use the facilities if I'm not a USAir club member or full envoy fare paying customer?.... </font>

As an Envoy pax, a day room is provided at the FCO airport Hilton to rest and freshen up. Just save your Invitation (distributed during flight)and Envoy BP stub for the hotel receptionist - may have to show your passport too...can't remember. It doesn't matter whether you're in Envoy on a full fare, award, or UG with Miles, or whether you're a US Club member.

The day room is a standard room. I think they ask you how long you intend to stay, and a few hours there should be OK until your next flight. A breakfast coupon is provided, but it doesn't amount to more than coffee and pastry. The Hilton is a brisk walk from Customs, and a much nicer place to rest than the airport waiting area!

I'd just go to the Hilton, shower, maybe nap, have breakfast (they will often let you use the whole buffet - even though the coupon doesn't actually cover it...) and relax.

No way you should try to get to Rome - rush hour is very real everywhere around the city. Since you are spending time there later, why rush around, and why take the risk?

The only nearby sight is Ostia Antica (like Pompeii, but smaller and in nicer, more park-like surroundings than Pompeii). You probably could hire a cab at FCO for a couple hours to drive you over there and wait to bring you back.

Hang out in the airport or the Hilton. Ostia Antica is interesting if you can swing it, but I'd not risk it personally.