FCO connection time
 

I've booked separate tickets - ATH to FCO and FCO to ATL. We're on Aegean Air arriving at 10am into FCO and DL departing at 12:15pm. We'll have to claim checked bags, transfer to T5 and recheck/go thru security. We're in first class and my husband is Diamond with DL and I've found that to help greatly anywhere we travel. Anyone with recent experience?

I flew into FCO on an intra-Europe flight about 1mo ago and it took me 1hr 10min to get my bags after arrival. I'm thankful I didn't have to then go check-in for another flight - I would have not made the 1hr baggage cut-off time.

But why do you say you must claim your bags? Have you confirmed that Aegean and Alitalia do NOT have an interline baggage agreement?

Yes, I asked DL today and apparently last fall they ended baggage agreements with about everyone but SkyTeam airlines. I had no idea! Can I ask which part made it take so long? Were you just standing at baggage claim waiting for your bags arrive or was it getting off the plane & to baggage claim? Thanks for your help!

The answers you got on TA and here are not going to be different, I bet.
It's probably not enough time.
You can give yourself a better shot by not checking bags, or by taking a different flight, which on your TA post you indicated was an option..

sorry - you did say Delta..

Yes, waiting for bags at baggage claim. and waiting. I can't tell you if that is typical or not - just my own experience.

Delta put a kibosh to luggage transfer for multiple ticket trip, at least for Delta -> any airline direction pro.delta.com/content/agency/us/en/products-and-services/baggage/delta-s-through-check-baggage-policy-.html I don't know if they are still in effect nor if it also applies to Aegean --> Delta direction.

FCO luggage retrieval has been chronically slow. It has been taking about an hour to get my luggage whether flying from the U.S. or from Athens on Aegean, just like what you are doing. That leaves 1 hr 15 minutes to departure. That leaves little margin to comply with checked in 60 min and at gate 45 min before flight. http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...uirements.html. They would probably work with premium ticket holders, but I don't think they are obliged any more to gets you on the plane if you miss the cut off times. Delta has no obligation to accommodate you if Aegean caused delay further shortening the layover time.

You didn't want to take: ATH-AMS-ATL KLM/Delta; ATH-FCO-ATL Alitalia/Delta; or ATH-CDG-ATL AF/Delta combinations that could have been bought as single tickets?

Thanks everyone. I'm going to rebook & get the earlier flight to FCO. I appreciate some of the really helpful responses here.

You need to allow at least three hours <b> after </b> collecting your bags, so I would allow a minimum of five hours, to allow for late arrival of your first flight and slow baggage collection. In fact, I wouldn't dream of buying two independent tickets for the same day when the second flight is a transatlantic flight. It would cost a fortune to get a new ticket to Atlanta at the last minute. Check the price of today's flight to get an idea.

For any flight from CDG to the US you should be checking your luggage in 3 hours in advance - this means landing at least 1.5 hours minimum before that. The last couple of times I have been through CDG getting luggage has take at least an hour and once (I think some sort of slow down) almost 2 hours. (The baggage area was packed with passengers and luggage was coming down each carousel only 2 or 3 pieces at a time.)

Also, not mentioned, is the physical distance involved. We did that route a few years ago but don't remember the time it took but it was more than two hours and we used it all. After you get your luggage, you exit the terminal, walk right to the bus pick up point to T-5. T-5 is terminal in name only. It is a processing area for direct flights going to the US. You go through check-in, immigration departure, and security screening and then are bused back to T-3 for the departing flight. Even under the best of situations, it just takes time. I would get a wider window.

>>>After you get your luggage, you exit the terminal, walk right to the bus pick up point to T-5. T-5 is terminal in name only.<<<
>>>then are bused back to T-3<<

Not exactly. T-5 does the processing (reached by bus from the terminal) and then you are bused to what's if called boarding area G which is a satellite area apart from T3. Here's a map showing them.

http://loungeindex.com/Europe/Italy/FCO/

Keep in mind large international flights start boarding an hour or so before departure time.