Hi,

We are arriving in Rome on USAir from Philly at 8:30am January17th. We need to then fly to Catania.

Our options are 10:00 or 1:00. I'd love to be able to take the 10:00 because I really don't want to hang around the airport with 2 cranky kids...but I'm afraid we won't make the 10:00....not sure how quick things move in Rome or how far apart the terminals are.

Many thanks for your help,
Jeannine

Is the onward flight on a code-share partner of US Air, if there is such a thing. In other words, are you on your own if you miss the flight or will you be re-booked on the 1 pm flight at no cost?

It's Alitalia...not sure if they code share with USAir. Most likely we'll be on our own if we miss the 10:00

We fly out of Philly and have flown USAir into Rome twice - love the nonstop flight. The last time was in February, we didn't check luggage and we landed on time. We were also seated near the front so we probably could have made a 10 am connection. However, keep in mind in January you may have an outbound delay due to weather. Are you checking luggage? I don't know that I'd risk it, but if you do make sure you have a back up plan.

The USAir and Alitalia need not be on a codeshare - they simply have to be on a single ticket/itinerary to protect yourself. How are you planning to purchase the tickets? All together from PHL to Catania with a travel agency or through a single source, or will you do completely separate tickets?

If the latter, and you are delayed, your Rome/Catania/Rome tickets may be completely invalidated if you fail to show for the outbound flight.

If the former, which I recommend, you are protected if you miss the 10am, and can be rebooked on the 1pm if needed. That's what I would do. If you've already booked PHL-FCO, then you are taking a risk that you won't make the connecting flight and will have to buy new tickets upon arrival.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses.

The USAir flights from Philly to Rome were purchased with miles (one of the benefits to off-season travel).

Alitalia has an option to upgrade the tickets - 4 total - for $260ish dollars. That provided the opportunity to purchase - basically re-ticketing - for about 50 euros per ticket. Sounds like it might be good insurance.

It might be money wasted if the stars align but I really hate the thought of hanging around exhausted in an airport.

Any yes, we do have seats in the front and I am trying to get my husband on board with the idea of not checking luggage.

Many thanks,
Jeannine

What do you mean by upgrading and re-ticketing? Will it be one ticket or two separate ones?

Last spring I kept warning my friend over and over that 2 hours in Rome wasn't enough time for their separate tickets (JFK-Rome, Rome-Prague). Their incompetent travel agent (why do people still use travel agents anyway?) assured them that it was more than enough time. In the end, their first flight was delayed 3 hours, and they had to pay over $800 each for new tickets out of Rome which weren't even directly to their destination-- they had to fly to somewhere in Germany and then take a train, finally arriving at their destination in the middle of the night.

They were lucky that Czech Air reinstated their RETURN ticket.

If it were me I would opt for the 1:00. Flights can be delayed so easily and from experience there is no guarantee you will even make the 1:00 flight.

Make sure you review your tickets when you get them. On our flight in October with USAir from Rome to Philly and on to Milw. they changed the flight to an earlier flight from Philly to Milw. and didn't notify us and it was only when we were in Philly that we noticed we had 45 minutes and not three hours for our next flight.

I would definitely book the 1 pm flight. You may be in time for the 10 am flight - but if you're not - there's no guarantee you'll get on the 1 pm flight,. If it;s one ticket - and they have room - they'll put you on it. But if the flight is full you'll have to hang around Rome until they have a flight with seats available (they won;t bump an already ticketed passenger to get you on the plane - you go on the next EMPTY seat).

Airone has a 12:10p flight for about the same price as AZ, at around US$120 one-way now.

Windjet has a 12:50p flight for about 85€, which is about $110.

You are not limited to AZ.

I would book the later flight AND check luggage. I would not want to try to make a tight connection OR attempt going carry-on only traveling with two kids.