We will be flying into Rome at about 8:00 am on American. Our flight to Venice doesn't leave until about noon, but it is on Alitalia.

Since this is our first time to Europe, what will we encounter in terms of Immigration and Customs? Will we do all of this in Rome?

I assume we will have to get our bags in Rome and re-check them on Alitalia, right? Do we have to go through security again?

Any idea on what kind of distance is between the American and Alitalia terminals?

Lastly, if we carry-on all our baggage on the American flight, does that mean the bags will be able to be carried onto the Alitalia flight as well?

Thanks in advance!

You will go through all immigration and customs formalities when you arrive in Rome. You will have to collect your baggage and take it through customs, then walk over to the Alitalia domestic flight terminal and check-in for your Venice flight. From memory, the US flights come into Terminal C, and your Alitalia flight will either be from Terminal B or Terminal A. It is not a far walk from C to B (maybe 5 minutes) and another 10 minutes to Terminal A.

There are free luggage carts in the baggage arrival area, so it should not be difficult to transport your luggage to the Alitalia terminal. Once you exist customs, look up for TV screens which may show your Venice flight, including the terminal. Otherwise look for an information desk. The airport is well-marked, just follow signs to the correct terminal. You will have to go upstairs at some point to get to the departure floor, as arrivals are on the ground floor.

After you check-in you will go through security for the domestic terminal; however the procedures here are not quite as time-consuming as the US and these should not take significant time. It is just an x-ray machine.

Depending on the size of the aircraft for the Venice flight, you should be able to take all your carry-on from the int'l flight onto the domestic flight. However, if it is a small plane, you may have to check some pieces, or stow them below the plane at the gate (they have baggage people that will take it from you as you board and give it back to you when you get off the plane).

FYI, your int'l l fight arrives at the same time as about 6-8 other int'l flights from the US. There can be long lines at immigration, and it can sometimes take 30 minutes for your bags to be delivered to the baggage claim area. Good thing you have some time.

If you really want to know the departure terminal for your Venice flight, give Alitalia call, they should be able to tell you. Terminal A is domestic, and Terminal B is both international (mainly Europe) and domestic. Terminal C is international (mainly US).

KMS

Actually, you should be able to check your luggage through to Venice - call AA to make sure. It all depends on whether AA has a "lugage interlining agreement" with Alitalia . You should specify whether your itinerary is on a single ticket or 2 separate ones as this sometimes makes a difference.

If the check in agent checks your luggage through, make sure the tag says VCE (Venice), if not it should say FCO (Rome Fiumicino).

You will go through immigration in Rome no matter what though (not a big deal like in the US). Never connected in Rome, so don't know if you need to ge through security again, but since you appear to be changing terminals, I assume you do.

You go through customs at the airport where you first pick up your lugage, so either Venice or Rome.

Carry on policy varies by airline and its application mostly depends on pure luck i.e. whether the check in or gate agent is a pain or not.

In a nutshell, you should have ample time to make your connection and more likely than not will not have to deal with your luggage till you get to Venice.

Here are links to both airports' web sites:
http://www.adr.it/default.asp?L=3
http://www.veniceairport.it/?lan=en

Have a great trip!
Andre

I arrive at 8:45 into Rome and then have a connecting flight to Naples at 9:40 on Alitalia, will I make it??? Please let me know what I will expect?

Thanks

anyone??

fairsat:

as long as your arrival flight is on time, you should be able to make your scheduled connection to Naples. Don't panic even if you don't because, as I recall, there are hourly flights from Rome to Naples and you can surely get on another flight without penalty. We were on a similiar schedule in March, Rome to Palermo, and experienced no problems. Buon viaggio!

I agree 100% with Andre about calling American and asking if your luggage can automatically transfered to the Alitalia flight. I have flown into Italy many times and the point of entry is where you go through immigration. However, I have never had to have my luggage with me (like you do in the US). I only had to show my passport and then go on to my connection.

Fairsat, you should have no problem since you are flying with Alitalia. If the plane is late, they will just put you on the next flight to Napoli, which run several times a day, from my recollection. Italy is a very relaxed country. You don't go through a big hassle going through immigration in other countrys. And since you are flying with Alitalia, you won't have to have your luggage with you when you go through immigration in Rome. Your luggage with automatically be transfered to your flight to Napoli.