NeoOfTheCRS

Flying IAD-FCO next year on a UA Business Class award ticket. Are there any kind of arrival lounge options? Departure lounge options?

I know that on arrival, US has offered a dayroom at the FCO Hilton Hotel. Does UA?

cielodome

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I just flew IAD-FCO/FCO-IAD on a Z fare and there was no "invitation" (even as a *G) to any of the lounges (unlike LH). Be aware that check-in and securuty took me 2 hours and I arrived at the gate as boarding commenced. I have never known FCO to be anything other than a zoo -- even when on TW and they had a whole section apart.

Lori_Q

There is no arrival lounge at Fiumicino. You'd be lucky if your bag comes out in less than 45 minutes. If you're checking luggage, I advise carrying a washcloth, a hand towel, and a change of clothes so that you can freshen up at one of the bathrooms in the baggage claim area while you wait for your bag. You'll want the washcloth anyway because Italy is one of those countries that doesn't seem to have them in any of the hotels.

As for departure lounges, your international Business Class ticket will get you access to the Red Carpet Clubs at Dulles. You should be offered two coupons for alcoholic beverages. I haven't departed from FCO in Business, so I don't know about the lounge situation on the return flight. You can use the IAD RCCs.

BenjaminNYC

Huh??? I don't know where you've been staying...

cielodome

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FCO has a remote international (usually not for intra-europe flights) that is not too bad but I don't know of any lounges attached to it. LH usually departs from A or B and there a some small, but nice lounges in those areas.

In all honesty the international check-in is so chaotic and so filled with people that unless you arrive -- even three hours early -- you probably wouldn't have a decent amount of time to use a lounge.

worldtrav

There is no arrivals or departure lounge in FCO for business class.

lucky9876coins

Really? Not even a contracted departures lounge?

azepine00

Nope! There is one general lounge which seems to accepts C passengers from almost every airline other than UA.
UA F passengers get to use BA lounge (get a pass first).

BenjaminNYC

HAHAHAHAHA! That's so pathetic.

NeoOfTheCRS

This seems to be a matter of UA being cheap. Even twice bankrupt USAirways has a contracted lounge. ..and yes, both UA and US use the same terminal, terminal C. The contract lounge is call "L'Anfore" it has a nice cappucino bar, since that seems to be all I care about when leaving Italy.

Add to that the fact that US has dayrooms at the Fiumicino Hilton reserved on arrival for all business passengers, a very nice touch and good way to start your day.

These were of course started long ago and if current managment in Tempe found out they'd have a heart attack. But come on UA!!!

Mrp Alert

Thanks for the great information. I am burning 60k of my remaining US miles on business class ticket to FCO on the US discounted winter biz award.

UA is hands down the winner in the sky for the C passenger
US is hands down the winner on the ground (PHL Envoy lounge, FCO Arrivals & Departure Lounges) and in cost when using miles.

Please US, don't take this benefit away!

ckc123

What Lounge does a star gold have access to in Rome if any?

Thanks..

hockeyguy

According to this thread and this link, there is no lounge access for UA flights to/from Rome. If you're on another *A carrier, you should be able to use one of the contract lounges.

EricH

Also, is there an arrivals lounge (with showers, hopefully)?

hockeyguy

Nope, see the thread I cited above.