I am a little puzzled right now.. I will be leaving tomorrow for Italy.. my flight is Toronto - Newark - Rome - Lamezia... I know I will get boarding passes for all flights in toronto.. my question is.. since I am connecting in Rome to Lamezia.. where will I need to go through Customs? Rome or Lamezia? and if its Rome, is an hour and a half of time enough to claim my luggage and go through customs security again and run to another terminal?
My ticket is booked all together with continental.. so I will land in Rome in Terminal 5 and I will need to go to Terminal 1 for the connecting flight..
Answer on Connecting Flights in Italy?
If CO booked it all the way for you then it's probably doable, but sorry to say I'd be uncomfortable about it. Terminal 5 is a good distance (but one stop) from Terminal 1. You will need to a take a bus there. Besides clearing customs/immigration at ROM, you'll also, I believe, need to endure domestic security in T1 and as I recall, it's a 2 step process whether you have a boarding pass or not.
Fiumicino (ROM) is one of the worst airport experiences anyone can imagine ... dirty ... poorly laid out ... generally disinterested, unhelpful personnel ... lousy signage. Imo, I'd check Alitalia's frequencies to Lamezia and plan on the NEXT flight and also see what CO can do for you in expediting the transfer. The final possible savings grace is that I seem to recall an Alitalia transfer desk in T5 (actually T5's remote gate area) , but was told that Italian is the only quick communication method. Good luck! RJ
ADDED: I did a quick check of SUF and yeah it has international facilities so if CO told you your bags will go directly there, you will not do customs/immigration until then. It seems you get the 'final savings grace' I mentioned and might get the direct transfer to inside security at T1. Thank your 'lucky stars' if that turns out to be so!
