FCO's Terminal 5
 

I know Terminal 5 is for US-based airlines (I flew out of there a year ago). However, I read on Slowtravel that if your US airline is a code share and is operated by a European airline, then you don't leave from Terminal 5. I'm flying United from FCO to ZHR (then connecting to Albany, NY). The FCO-ZHR leg is operated by Swiss Air. Anybody know if I leave from Terminal 5? I have searched United's website to no avail, their Customer Service section doesn't have a phone number anywhere, and they aren't answering my email inquiry.

Also, United's website says that the check-in desk opens at 6:40 a.m. My flight leaves at 6:40 a.m.! Any clarification would be appreciated.

You can look up your flight at the FCO site. For example, for tomorrow, it is T3 if your flight is LX1735 according to

http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-r...-fco-fiumicino

Thanks, Greg. I did try that as well, but will try it again.

OK, I just did look at that. Maybe my problem was that I was going at it for my United flight number, which is 9799. Can I assume that LX1735 is Swiss Air's number for the same flight? It's the correct time.
Thanks.

Typically a higher number on a US based airlines means it's a codeshare with another airline. Usually the last two numbers in the flight number match. Does your flight depart at the time of the Swiss flight? Ita shows the Swiss flight departs at 6:50, not 6:40 so perhaps not the same flight?

I guess UA and CO both number this flight as 9799 while Swiss does number it 1735. I'm not sure why ITA had the ten minute time difference.

Rome (FCO) - Zurich (ZRH)
Departure
Date:
10 Feb 2012
Time:
06:40
From:
Rome, Italy
Terminal:
3

Arrival
Date:
10 Feb 2012
Time:
08:20
At:
Zurich, Switzerland
Terminal:
No information available
Operating Airline:
SWISS
Flight number:
LX 1735
Total travel time:
01:40
No. of stops
0
Airplane type:
Airbus Industrie A319

I don't think you will have a problem checking in. It might be that you check-in at Swiss instead of United.

If I am not mistaken, the terminals of which you speak are departure terminals, more like what we in the US would think of as concourses. For better or for worse, you check in at a massive and chaotic hall near the taxi-bus-train arrival area.

There are huge boards listing flights by destination and which area to check in for them (there are something like 60 areas, roughly defined by airline). If you are flying to ZHR, that's what you will look for. You generally stand in a single line and are directed by an employee to the next available desk. THEN you go through immigration and security and on to the departure terminal, either walking or on the train.

I would not think it would be too busy if you got there at 0530 for an 0640 flight.

Thanks for the additional information. Looks like I need Terminal 3. I've flown out of FCO many times. Even for a flight that early, I will probably plan to be there more than an hour ahead. :-d

I think check-in location is different for T5 than T3. When I've flown out of FCO T5, I've had to take a shuttle bus just to reach check-in/passport control. I don't think that's the case for T3, but I haven't used it.

I think you're right, kybourbon. I didn't want to be way over in Terminal 5, only to find out I need 3.