Your concern will be the location of the left luggage (possibly outside secure area). Are all your flights on one ticket? Most flights to the US that don't require a change depart from T5.

http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en-/pax-fco-baggage-services

In the past ('06 and before) I always arrived early at the airport for morning and mid-afternoon flights.

I would check-in at T-3 and go down to Arrivals just to check-out the area to include in a tripreport (phone stores, shuttle services, ATM's working, etc).

I would say I did this ~6 times over the years and never saw anyone using the Left Luggage and it was open.
Post 9-11 it was closed for a year or so until they got an X-Ray machine IIRC.

IMO I doubt anything has changed much it's just not a service that is used very much at this airport because the vast majority of travelers are either coming or going.
With a very small minority doing things like you are or having a long lay-over and wanting to visit Rome or nearby Ostia.

As kybourbon mentions it's its location that will be your major concern because it was and very likely still is outside the Secure Area.

Also it *was* located at the very end of Terminal C. Just to get your bearings; If you arrive by plane in Terminal A, B or C after you leave the secure area and enter unsecure airport area just turn right and walk. When you hit the end of Terminal C it *was* right there impossible to miss. *C-B-A ^up is the Secure Area. Regards, Walter

Thanks for the replies and info. I have not been able to find a resource to accurately let me know if it is inside or outside the secure area now. If it is outside, our main concern will be wait times in the security lines it appears?

But, all in all, it seems like 3 1/2 hours "should" give us enough time???

Our flight leaves out of Rome to Palermo at 1pm, so we will get to the airport in plenty of time to search this out too. If the situation is concerning, I guess we'll just fork out the extra $36 each to check our bags and take them with us.

Oh and our flights are not on one ticket. We purchased them independently. US Air/Lufthansa to and from Italy. EasyJet to and from Palermo. (any concerns there I need to know?!!)

Have you checked on the size of your carry-on luggage? the standard size in europe is smaller than in the US - and I have seen many people with a carry-on have to gate check it - since it didn;t fit the EU standard. I would check Easyjet web site to see the standard size (which includes handles and wheels) - and take it very seriously.

Thanks nytraveler...we did check that and it their requirements seem OK for what we are taking. We will literally have backpacks and tote bags as far as carry on. If we had suitcase type small luggage, I think there would be concern.

http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/terminal-5-at-fco

I missed this detailed account earlier today. It does appear that no matter what, we will be going through security at T5 to depart to America.

So, correct me if I am wrong:

We will arrive in T2 from Palermo, walk to T3 and out of the secured area to retrieve our luggage from "Left Luggage". We will then catch a shuttle from T3 to T5 and go through security. I think we then may be required to shuttle again to our departing gate. Just hoping 3 1/2 hours gives us enough time!

When you leave T3 to go to T5 (by shuttle bus), you will come to check-in and passport control first. You will check your luggage and proceed to security. Next you catch another shuttle to departure area. The first bus between T3 and T5 might be packed so it's possible to have to wait for the next shuttle.

>>>We will literally have backpacks and tote bags as far as carry on.<<<

Easy Jet doesn't allow you to carry on two pieces. You can't even carry on a backpack and a purse. Only one item is allowed. You will have to check your backpacks. It's cheaper to do it online.

Actually found this while you where posting, Left Luggage is at the same location.
www.roninrome.com/transportation/fco-terminal-3-arrivals-area

To avoid any confusion when posters like myself say Terminal A, B, C, D that is the old system, today it's T1, T2, T3, T4, T5.

From T2 Arrivals to the T3 Left Luggage is a 5min walk, according to his website the bus to T5 is outside T3. So it's very likely only going to add ~10min total for you to walk, retrive your luggage and be outside for the bus.

It's getting to the point where any questions about Rome should be answered by "Have you checked RoninRome yet"? Regards, Walter

"Easy Jet doesn't allow you to carry on two pieces. You can't even carry on a backpack and a purse. Only one item is allowed. You will have to check your backpacks. It's cheaper to do it online."

We will only have one piece each. There are 4 of us...I meant that some will have backpacks, some will have totes.