Has anyone left the Fiumicino (Rome) Airport through the new Terminal 5? The Rome Airport website says there are five areas:
1)Profiling area – Passengers are interviewed by airline security staff.
2)Check-in area – Passengers check in and receive boarding card.
3)Security and passport controls
4)Boarding area – Passengers are transferred from Terminal 5 to boarding gates by means of a continuous shuttle service in three minutes

When you arrive in the Check-in area, do you check your luggage? Also, do you really take a shuttle to the airplane? What is the shuttle, is it a bus?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

t

I think Dutyfree (she's a flight attendant that flies this route) has posted about the terminals recently. You might try using the search function (use terminal 5 to search or Dutyfree). She's currently traveling in Italy so perhaps she will see this in the next few days.

dtraveler2006-I just got back from my vacation to the Ligurian coast with my daughter and then another working trip to FCO all within 10 days-talk about exhausted but am happy to answer any questions.

All US bound airplanes now leave out of Terminal 5 at FCO-it really looks and feels like a giant warehouse when you walk in.There are various lines for your respective airline in the first room for the interviewing/profiling.You then go into the next room and there are more booths for your airline for check-in followed by another area that is the screening area. After that you are in a room where passport control and immigration are on the left. There will be shuttle buses waiting outside after you clear customs that take you back to Terminal C where your respective airline is parked.

Terminal C is also where the dutyfree shop,newstands(last minute gelato,coffee or sandwich purchases),eating spots and trendy shops are for last minute goodies.It is there where you will wait until the flight is called and then take an escalator down to the jetway.

I should stress that the last couple times to FCO, I have been parked out at a remote gate which is a pain. Sometimes in the summer when all of the airlines add on their extra flights there are not enough gates so be prepared for stairs in boarding. Alitalia always seems to luck out getting a gate though-wonder why?

I wasn't too pleased with the new terminal but now realize that it has really cut down the hordes of backed up travelers waiting in baggage screening which was always difficult in the past.

Let me know if you need any other info-have a fabulous trip! Just make sure that you are dressed for really hot weather over there as it has felt more like August lately than June. Very oppressive!

dutyfree, I'm flying Alitalia next week, so I'm glad to hear that they get a gate!

Not necessarily but usually? Have fun and save some wine for me!

Dutyfree, is it possible to take a taxi direct to Terminal 5 or must I start at the main terminal building? I am thinking of our dragging two heavy full size suitcases plus two carryons onto the bus to go to Terminal 5. Does the bus driver help or does he put luggage in a compartment under the bus?

Thanks for your valuable help.

I have seen taxis over there and the nice part about this terminal 5 is there is a covered area as you get out which is nice for either extreme sun or rain!

Our car service (romeshuttlelimo.com who were terrific, btw - 35€ central Rome to FCO) dropped us off directly at T5 the first day that it opened. We flew Delta (I've posted earlier about this) and they were having a lot of computer problems, most likely straightened out now. As dutyfree says, we had stairs for boarding.

Thanks everyone for the answers. It has helped a lot!

Has anyone that's departed from Terminal 5 had to get VAT refunds? The way it worked from Terminal C was that if your goods were in your checked luggage, you would have to check in, keep your bag and bring it to dogana for the stamp on your paperwork, then return to the check in desk with your luggage (you have to be able to produce the goods to get the customs stamp). Then the companies you get the refunds from have desks inside the terminal.

BUT if you're checking in at the new terminal, do they have dogana (customs staff) there as well? And can you get back to the part of terminal C - before the train to the remote gates - to get your refund?

I do a lot of shopping in Italy, so this is a major issue for me.

Anyone with any insight? Thanks!

I used T5 about two weeks ago.

Regarding the VAT refunds, there's a customs counter in T5. You need to get a stamp there. Afterwards, you can go to the VAT refund counter at Gate 21 (I think) in Terminal C. I think there are two refund counters. Unfortunately the one I had to use was unmanned. The other one was "Global Refund," I think, which refused to take my forms. So I just mailed them when I came back. Let's see if I get the $. I shopped at Gucci -- I think they handle their refunds through "Premier Tax Free" or something like that.

I can't remember if they asked to inspect what I bought. I don't they did. Anyway, though it's customary for the customs officers to inspect your goods, they frequently don't do so.

We flew Delta and it was really horrible. I think most of the flights they had were delayed. You check in your bags at T5 (though we didn't have any bags to check). But the agents were really inefficient. You take a bus to terminal C.

Thanks, 111op, that's exactly what I needed to know. FYI, Gucci uses Premier Tax Free and there is not always someone at their desk, although there should be. Global Refund would not take their form because the companies have nothing to do with each other. You should get your refund in about 2 statements.

Thanks again!

Thanks, I hope you're right. In the past I've usually done my refunds by cc, but lately I've opted for cash, which is not the most economical because the commissions are outrageous.

I was told that Premier Tax Free was only manned in the afternoon, but I was doubtful because that stand looked more like a shell than any meaningful workplace.

Anyway, as usual, please do ask when you're at FCO regarding the latest refund procedures since these can always change.