JFK-FCO-FLR? [Transit procedures connecting at FCO]
Aug 1, 2013, 5:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Moscow, Russia
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 230
JFK-FCO-FLR? [Transit procedures connecting at FCO]
Hi All,
I'm planning a trip from NYC to Florence. Was thinking of taking the JFK-FCO-FLR route, but am rather confused about the transit procedures at FCO. I've looked up the airport website and searched the threads here and elsewhere and still have the following questions:
1) Do American flights only depart from terminal 5, or do they also arrive there?
2) If I am booked on and flying AA metal from JFK to FCO but then have an AZ flight number from FCO to FLR (all on the same ticket though) will I have to collected my checked luggage, or will it be automatically transferred?
3) Is 2 hrs transfer time enough at this airport?
Thanks in advance!
I'm planning a trip from NYC to Florence. Was thinking of taking the JFK-FCO-FLR route, but am rather confused about the transit procedures at FCO. I've looked up the airport website and searched the threads here and elsewhere and still have the following questions:
1) Do American flights only depart from terminal 5, or do they also arrive there?
2) If I am booked on and flying AA metal from JFK to FCO but then have an AZ flight number from FCO to FLR (all on the same ticket though) will I have to collected my checked luggage, or will it be automatically transferred?
3) Is 2 hrs transfer time enough at this airport?
Thanks in advance!
Aug 1, 2013, 5:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
Hi All,
I'm planning a trip from NYC to Florence. Was thinking of taking the JFK-FCO-FLR route, but am rather confused about the transit procedures at FCO. I've looked up the airport website and searched the threads here and elsewhere and still have the following questions:
1) Do American flights only depart from terminal 5, or do they also arrive there?
2) If I am booked on and flying AA metal from JFK to FCO but then have an AZ flight number from FCO to FLR (all on the same ticket though) will I have to collected my checked luggage, or will it be automatically transferred?
3) Is 2 hrs transfer time enough at this airport?
Thanks in advance!
I'm planning a trip from NYC to Florence. Was thinking of taking the JFK-FCO-FLR route, but am rather confused about the transit procedures at FCO. I've looked up the airport website and searched the threads here and elsewhere and still have the following questions:
1) Do American flights only depart from terminal 5, or do they also arrive there?
2) If I am booked on and flying AA metal from JFK to FCO but then have an AZ flight number from FCO to FLR (all on the same ticket though) will I have to collected my checked luggage, or will it be automatically transferred?
3) Is 2 hrs transfer time enough at this airport?
Thanks in advance!
More directly two hours may not be enough time to transit.
May I suggest the high speed train from Rome to Florence as another alternative? The DaVinci express train originates at FCO and ends at Roma Termini, Rome's main train station. At Roma Termini you transfer to a non stop high speed to Florence that deposits you in he center of the city. My wife and I have done this three times, each time with a big suitcase rather than fly to Florence.
Timeline - whatever time it takes to clear security and immigration. Fifteen minute walk to FCO train station. Twenty minute train ride to Roma Termini. Transfer and wait for Fresciarossa fast train. While waiting enjoy a cafe Americano to clear the head fog. Board train to Florence. Takes 1 hour 45 to Florence. Comparable time, different kind of hassle, more of Italy that you will see.
Last edited by george 3; Aug 1, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Aug 1, 2013, 5:58 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Gold, Mariott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 307
Terminal 5 isnt a terminal per se. They bus you over to the flights, but all US based airlines require you to go through security. Not all US FLIGHTS go out of that terminal. If you flew Airitalia it would go out of 1 or 3.
Anywho, when you land there is a connecting lane that you go through. Even if you had to go out and back in, you arrive in terminal 3 after passport control. And terminal 1 is at the far end (not really far) of that arrivals area.
Based on my not ever having doing this before but seeing the airport, I think even if you had to clear passport control you could do it in 2 hours on the outbound. The return, not so much. You would have to get a shuttle from the arrivals terminal and go to terminal 5 and through security (twice). As an elite, or on a pump fare, you can use the faster security lane, but dont fool yourself, its not a lot faster.
Anywho, when you land there is a connecting lane that you go through. Even if you had to go out and back in, you arrive in terminal 3 after passport control. And terminal 1 is at the far end (not really far) of that arrivals area.
Based on my not ever having doing this before but seeing the airport, I think even if you had to clear passport control you could do it in 2 hours on the outbound. The return, not so much. You would have to get a shuttle from the arrivals terminal and go to terminal 5 and through security (twice). As an elite, or on a pump fare, you can use the faster security lane, but dont fool yourself, its not a lot faster.
Aug 1, 2013, 7:05 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
I love, and prefer, high-speed trains, but it's usually cheaper to do the add-on to FLR -- typically the same base fare plus a few more EUR in tax -- than to buy a separate ticket on the train to stazione Termini and one from there on the Frecciarossa or Italo. Plus you don't have to haul your bags bleary eyed (AA arrives FCO at the not-so-cool 0135 NYC time zone). Of course at FLR you need to pay for a longer taxi ride than you would if you arrived at the station, so I can see why some people may prefer it.
It's been a while since I've connected in FCO (and it was arriving on BA, another non-Schengen arrival), and it was not at all painful and quite rapid.
Bags stay with the airport -- you do customs at FLR. At FCO you just do immigration, which is a simple passport check, not the monstrosity that it's in the US.
The published MCT is 1:00, which is consistent with my experience, and 2h will leave you lots of time to enjoy a real cappuccino and cornetto.
Enjoy!
It's been a while since I've connected in FCO (and it was arriving on BA, another non-Schengen arrival), and it was not at all painful and quite rapid.
Bags stay with the airport -- you do customs at FLR. At FCO you just do immigration, which is a simple passport check, not the monstrosity that it's in the US.
The published MCT is 1:00, which is consistent with my experience, and 2h will leave you lots of time to enjoy a real cappuccino and cornetto.
Enjoy!
Last edited by hillrider; Aug 1, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Aug 1, 2013, 7:33 pm
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
JFK-FCO-FLR? [Transit procedures connecting at FCO]
After dropping off your bags at JFK, the next time you should see them is at FLR not FCO. However you will go thru immigration at FCO.
Aug 1, 2013, 8:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
I love, and prefer, high-speed trains, but it's usually cheaper to do the add-on to FLR -- typically the same base fare plus a few more EUR in tax -- than to buy a separate ticket on the train to stazione Termini and one from there on the Frecciarossa or Italo. Plus you don't have to haul your bags bleary eyed (AA arrives FCO at the not-so-cool 0135 NYC time zone). Of course at FLR you need to pay for a longer taxi ride than you would if you arrived at the station, so I can see why some people may prefer it.
It's been a while since I've connected in FCO (and it was arriving on BA, another non-Schengen arrival), and it was not at all painful and quite rapid.
Bags stay with the airport -- you do customs at FLR. At FCO you just do immigration, which is a simple passport check, not the monstrosity that it's in the US.
The published MCT is 1:00, which is consistent with my experience, and 2h will leave you lots of time to enjoy a real cappuccino and cornetto.
Enjoy!
It's been a while since I've connected in FCO (and it was arriving on BA, another non-Schengen arrival), and it was not at all painful and quite rapid.
Bags stay with the airport -- you do customs at FLR. At FCO you just do immigration, which is a simple passport check, not the monstrosity that it's in the US.
The published MCT is 1:00, which is consistent with my experience, and 2h will leave you lots of time to enjoy a real cappuccino and cornetto.
Enjoy!
Aug 1, 2013, 9:53 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
Aug 1, 2013, 10:38 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Bags, sure. Their contents, well, that's another story! 
Apr 9, 2014, 1:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: MileagePlus, RapidRewards
Posts: 2
So building off of this if I was connecting to another European country via Alitalia through FCO I wouldn't see my bags until final destination?
Family is doing ORD-FCO, travel a bit and then BRU-ORD. The premium seat price battle between United and Delta has made ORD-BRU roundtrip a good deal but when you plug in the multi-destination price jumps. One of the ORD-BRU options goes through FCO so we'd like to book the BRU roundtrip and just get off at FCO. Can I pull that off?
Family is doing ORD-FCO, travel a bit and then BRU-ORD. The premium seat price battle between United and Delta has made ORD-BRU roundtrip a good deal but when you plug in the multi-destination price jumps. One of the ORD-BRU options goes through FCO so we'd like to book the BRU roundtrip and just get off at FCO. Can I pull that off?