LGabrielle

Hello everyone,

So this is my first time travelling to Italy and I chose Alitalia BEFORE reading bad reviews about lost baggage. Should I expect to lose my baggage if I decide to check- in my baggage?
My trip will be 13 days long and I do not know if a carry-on would be enough. I will be departing from Miami on Dec 16th and arriving at Ancona with a 4 hours layover in Rome. I am worried since I have read lots of bad reviews about Alitalia and lost luggage especially when having a connection.
Additionally, my returning date will be Dec 30th, with only a 1 hour and a half layover in Rome.

What do you think? Please give me some advice, Carry-on or check-in baggage?

ekc

Always carry-on. Not only do you not have to worry about lost luggage, you don't have to wait for your checked bag when you arrive!

I go to Italy for over 2 weeks every year and I have no problem going carry-on only. You can do it!

Southam

You may have a better chance of your bags going astray on some airlines than of winning the lottery, but the odds are still very low -- even on Alitalia, however much it deserves its reputation.
Many people travel with only carry-on luggage, even in winter. It takes discipline and planning. Read the airline's website for restrictions. Layer your clothing for warmth, and expect to do laundry. Nobody will notice if you wear the same sweater every day.
That 90-minute connection is a little tight, although you will probably reach Rome on a small feeder aircraft which will be easier to deplane for your rush to your next gate. Don't dwaddle; there may be a security check at the gate and the airline wants you in the aircraft at least a half-hour early.

dwdvagamundo

We've flown Alitalia frequently, checked bags, and never had a problem.

jane1144

Airlines aside, travelling with carry-on luggage only is the most liberating thing I have done. We easily managed one month in Europe with carry-on only. It is easy to rinse things out at night or fun to spend an hour in the local laundromat (across the street drinking wine while your laundry does itself!)

bvlenci

We often fly to the US and back from Ancona on flights with a connection at Fiumicino. We've never had a bag go astray yet, although we have had bags miss the connection on Lufthansa flights with a connection in Munich, and on Alitalia flights with a connection in Milan (before they dropped the connection in Milan). Sometimes we've a very short connection time, but the bags have always made the flight.

We've never, on any of our many flights, totally lost a bag. The missed connections I'm talking about were always resolved within 24 hours.

The carryon allowance on the domestic flight is considerably lower than on the transatlantic flight, so you would probably be required to gate check a larger carryon bag.

Also, Ancona is a very small airport, so you never have a very long wait for your bags.

I almost always check my bag, even if it's carryon size, just to be free of it when I'm in transit. I usually carry on only a small backpack or a purse, unless I have something that I'd absolutely hate to have to do without for a day or so.

cmeyer54

At a minimum, take enough clothes and any essential items for 2-3 days in a carryon. If you must pack a large bag, pack it, then take out 1/2 of the stuff and see if it will fit into a carryon. Most people never get past the top half of any packed bag.

LGabrielle

Thank you all for your answers. My only concern if travelling with a carry-on is that I would have to carry liquids in my carry-on and there is the possibility of being disposed by TSA at MIA. Bvlenci, can you tell me what is the carry on allowance in a domestic flight? My carry on is around 8kg.

bvlenci

That should be OK, but it's more the size than the weight that seems to count. Lately Alitalia has been subcontracting that route to a small airline called Darwin, and they seem to gate check anything with wheels. I have a small bag that easily fits under the seat in front of me, but they've made me gate check it twice.

janisj

>>if travelling with a carry-on is that I would have to carry liquids in my carry-on and there is the possibility of being disposed by TSA at MIA.<<

The same liquids limits apply on flights w/i Europe as to flights originating in the USA - so it isn't just TSA but the Italian security agents as well.

But how much liquid do you need for 2 weeks. Shampoo? Most hotels provide it so why take any - or at least just a tiny travel size 'in case'. Toothpaste? A small travel size is plenty of two weeks. Mouth wash? 2 to 4 small travel size. Contact lens solution? It isn't limited the same 3 oz limit so no problem. Body lotions/face creams? Put a some in small travel bottles - available at any drugstore/Super market/target/WalMart/etc.

I do carry on-only whether 2 night, 2 weeks or 2 months . . .

Ackislander

I can't do carryon for more than an overnight, and Alitalia has never lost my checked bag, though getting one's luggage at FCO is often endless. But you are a transit passenger, so it isn't an issue for you.

LGabrielle

Janisj: Well I would need my contact lenses solution, liquid foundation, liquid eyeliner and things like that and also my flat iron which I always put in my check in bag but I do not know if I can put it in my carry-on.

janisj

Of course you can put your flat iron in your carry on bag- why on earth not? ( translation for our European members: flat iron = hair straightener). But only take it if it is dual voltage (and one you buy in Europe will work better w/ less likelihood of you blowing all the circuits)

Look at your liquid foundation. I guarantee it is under 3 oz ( and if it isn't, you can transfer enough into a small bottle). Like I said, contact lens solution/ saline are not limited to the 3 oz rule. Eyeliner? It is TINY - absolutely no problem w/ that.

You get one quart ziplock baggie w/ as many under-three oz liquids as you can cram into it . . . Not counting the saline/contact lens solution.

LGabrielle

Janisj: Thank you so much for your help. I think it is better if I take my carry-on. It seems easier and less stressful. And yes, my foundation is less than 3 oz.

Thank you all

LR

SciGalSal

Now that your trip is over, could you share whether Alitalia was allowing purses in addition to carryon bags? I'd love to have both, but they state they make allowances only for laptops and briefcases in addition to carryons. I also will be making the MIA-FCO run. Thanks!

Reelsqueal

Carry on if at all possible. If not, make sure the replacement value of your property is less than the limit on what they have to pay ($1600 I think). I've been without $2k worth of clothes for a week because Alitalia lost my suitcase from Rome to Frankfurt, and then finally delivered it to my Frankfurt hotel 2 days after the date they knew I was leaving there. I get no response to emails, and the phone customer service says they have no information and just give you the email address. I'm going to have to just break down and pay a few hundred dollars to get some delivery service to get it to me here in the U.S.

sandralist

Sorry for your troubles, but airlines don't lose suitcases. Airport baggage handlers do. You can fault Alitalia for their poor customer service in helping re-unite you with your belongings, and the advice to do carryon is correct but applies anytime to any airline. Travel insurance will cover the costs of shipping you your luggage.

Dukey1

Yep carry-ons. They liberate you to do more laundry.

ConfusedCalifornian

We will be taking a trip to Italy and have questions about the baggage sizing requirements. Alitalia's carry-on is 21.5 inches length. Most carry-on suitcases we've looked at height does not include the wheels. Does anyone have a bag recommendation?