Connection time at FCO
 

I'm asking for a friend whom I helping to plan her trip. They land at FCO, Delta from ATL, at 10:50 on April 19. Is a two hour connection enough to make their connection (not booked together) on Alitalia to Milan? Should they reserve the 2 PM flight rather than the 1 PM?

>>Is a two hour connection enough to make their connection (not booked together) on Alitalia to Milan?<<

Not on separate tickets -- Heck even the 2PM would be iffy because any hiccup and they'd lose their second flight.

In my opinion, when you are dealing with an unprotected connection like this, I would like to be able to tolerate one hour delay easily and two hours delay by not dilly-dallying in between. Between Delta and Alitalia, they should be able to check luggage, if any, to Milan. If they need to retrieve luggage at FCO, their change of making 2pm flight is indded iffy. FCO is a slow luggage airport.

I am puzzled. Why did they not book ATL-LIN (or ATL-MXP).? While there is no non-strop betwen ATL and either of the two Milan airports, since they need to hop onto the second plane anyway from FCO, if they booked, for example ATL-AMS-LIN, they would be gotten to Milan faster (no need to build in buffer), connection protected by the carrier, luggage guaranteed to be checked to Milan. The AMS is a very efficient airport to change planes. And on a random day compbination I looked in April, booking to either of two Milan airports are cheaper than going through FCO evern before adding risk and additional flight cost.

greg, I can't answer for them. I appreciate your advice. I'm going to suggest they get the 2PM.

Skip the second flight and take the train.

Don't book the train in advance . Take the regional to Tiburtina FL1 for €8 and than either Italo (likely cheaper) or TrenItalia to Milan.

They'll need to get into Milan from the airport if they fly . The train might even be easier depending on the location of the hotel.

yep, take the train

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Thank you all for the great advice. I spoke to them last night and they have decided to take the train. They will buy tickets at the window at FCO and opt for 1st if the next train to Milan is sold out. It is Good Friday, which is a heavy travel day, I think.

They are planning to go from either station in Rome (Tiburtina or Termini) depending on which has the next fast train. That sounds like a good idea to me, but wonder what you helpful folks think.

Will the ticket office at FCO sell them Italo tickets? I've only used it for Trenitalia.

I think currently all the trains stop at both stations.

Tiburtina is further north so a little closer. You take the FL1 to Tiburtina instead of the express. That means you save €6 per person. But the train leaving Tiburtina will have stopped at Termini minutes earlier.

No Italo office at FCO. They could use the app. There is free wifi at the airport. Or they could buy at either Termini or Tiburtina. Full Italo help desks /lounges at both stations