Arriving in Rome

[TXTransplant]

Another question related to our trip (they just keep coming)...what is arrival in Rome going to be like for those of you who have flown there?

We are on a flight that leaves the US at 3 pm on Saturday with a layover in Amsterdam. Our flight is scheduled to arrive in Rome around noon-ish on Sunday. We have an apartment booked with Airbnb, and our host is arranging for a driver to pick us up from the airport.

What will the procedures be like when we arrive in Rome (and Amsterdam, for that matter)? What kind of customs will we pass through (if any) in Amsterdam and Rome.

Since our bag restrictions are so tight and we are now checking a bag, what kind of wait are we looking at at baggage claim? I just read a horror story on another travel forum about it taking two hours during this time of day because the ground crew all break for lunch at the same time.

 

[DisneyKevin]

We have had the experience of half of our arriving plane receiving their luggage and half of the plane had to wait while the ground crew had a coffee break.

As long as you stay within the departure area, you should not have to go through Customs in Amsterdam.

We have had to go through a second and very thorough security check at the gate in Amsterdam.

You will have to go through Customs in Rome.

You will need to visit baggage claim and collect your bag(s) and then head through Customs. There will be a line for residents of the EU and another for non-residents.

We have breezed through Customs and we have been in line for an hour or more.

Everything depends on the traffic in the airport.

All that being said....there is pretty much nothing you can do other than having your documents organized and available.

 

[Woodview]

I agree with DisneyKevin. But here are a few other tips for Amsterdam Airport

( We use this Airport at least 2 times a year ,,, both ways . )

After you walk up the Air bridge there will be a row of Free hand carts for your small carryon bags . ( Look out for them )

Take one as there is a long walk to reach other departure gates . Terminal is Level .. unless you are going outside.

You Can ask " for assistance " to be taken to next departure gate by either " Free Wheelchair " or " Free Golf Cart Type car "

Signs are in English .... Lots of shops & eating places as you walk the level way to next departure gate.

You are not allowed to " Buy Duty Free " shopping as it is an Internal European flight to Rome.


RETURN Journey From Rome & Landing in Amsterdam ,

YOU are allowed to buy " Duty Free Goods " In Amsterdam Before you fly Back to USA.


Tip as pointed out ... On check in in USA your Hold Luggage should be labelled Rome as

final Destination ( No collecting at Amsterdam )

Yes there is Very Strict Security Check before you arrive at boarding gate area.

### International NON European Gates are in one arm of Airport & European flights are in the other Arm of Airport. ###


..............................

I have not been in Rome Airport for over 15 years so I make no comment about it.

Hope this helps & have a great holiday.

 

[TXTransplant]

I agree with DisneyKevin. But here are a few other tips for Amsterdam Airport

( We use this Airport at least 2 times a year ,,, both ways . )

After you walk up the Air bridge there will be a row of Free hand carts for your small carryon bags . ( Look out for them )

Take one as there is a long walk to reach other departure gates . Terminal is Level .. unless you are going outside.

You Can ask " for assistance " to be taken to next departure gate by either " Free Wheelchair " or " Free Golf Cart Type car "

Signs are in English .... Lots of shops & eating places as you walk the level way to next departure gate.

You are not allowed to " Buy Duty Free " shopping as it is an Internal European flight to Rome.


RETURN Journey From Rome & Landing in Amsterdam ,

YOU are allowed to buy " Duty Free Goods " In Amsterdam Before you fly Back to USA.


Tip as pointed out ... On check in in USA your Hold Luggage should be labelled Rome as

final Destination ( No collecting at Amsterdam )

Yes there is Very Strict Security Check before you arrive at boarding gate area.

### International NON European Gates are in one arm of Airport & European flights are in the other Arm of Airport. ###


..............................

I have not been in Rome Airport for over 15 years so I make no comment about it.

Hope this helps & have a great holiday.

Follow up question, since you are familiar with Amsterdam. Our flight home originates from Florence at 630 am (I'm assuming this will be one of the first flights out), scheduled to land in Amsterdam at 845 am. Our flight back to the US from Amsterdam departs at 955 am. I wasn't happy with this tight, one hour and 10 minute connection, but these flights were my best option. What is the process of arriving in Amsterdam from Florence going to be like, and how can I help ensure we make our flight home (assuming there are no flight delays from Florence)?

Thanks!

 

[Controller]

What is a good time to arrive in Rome? I am going 08/18/17 from DFW. Planning at least 1 day arrival before adventure begins.

 

[carpenta]

What is a good time to arrive in Rome? I am going 08/18/17 from DFW. Planning at least 1 day arrival before adventure begins.

Rome airport is about 30 minutes outside Rome proper. We arrived last time about 8:30 a.m. and it went pretty smooth for us. There was a little wait at immigration but no more than say JFK. It felt good just to stand and stretch waiting in line at passport windows.


When we flew through Amsterdam it was a disaster. We flew from Venice to Amsterdam going to JFK. It was around Easter if that makes a difference? I don't know. We had to travel from the E.U. side of the airport, go through passport control on to the U.S. and Western Hemisphere fights. Passport control had two booths open and the line was crazy. When we finally got to our gate we went into a room type sitting area and security employees interviewed all the passengers one by one on there trip plans. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get to our plane. Luckily we had four hour lay over. This was about 4 years ago so maybe some one else could speak of what it is like today? After that we will always fly direct to the U.S..

 

[Woodview]

Hello TXTransplant.

A Tight Schedule ........ But can be done.

At Check in at Florence tell them that you must make the flight to USA (They might have a Golf Cart transporter waiting at Amsterdam )

Tell them at the Boarding Gate .... Remind them of your tight time frame & ask again for cart transport to Departure Gate to USA.

Are you using the same Airline .. from Florence to Amsterdam & then Amsterdam to USA.. ( If same it would help )

............................................................

Depending on where you are seating on the plane from Florence , you might take some time to get off the plane.


There is no " Free for All " rush to board MOST flights in Europe ..... They go by Rows or Zones.

TIP ..... USE the Plane Restroom before Landing .

......................

On Arrival in Amsterdam you will have at least a 10 min walk ,on One arm of a " U "

Then a 5 min walk on the center of the " U " and then another 10 min walk & SECURITY on the 2nd Arm of " U "

The Walk is All on the Level.

............

TIP If you NEED to use the Restrooms Try and wait till you are on the 3rd or 2nd Leg of " U "

Why Because Internal Flights arrive at gates on the 1st arm of " U " AND RestRooms Get Very Busy.

...................

BEST IDEA is to Inform Airline Staff of your Departure Time.


TIP Forget about your Checked Luggage they will make it ...... ? ?

..................

Have a good Vacation .

Note We Fly from Cork , Ireland to Europe , & Dublin , Ireland to USA

 

[TXTransplant]

Hello TXTransplant.

A Tight Schedule ........ But can be done.

At Check in at Florence tell them that you must make the flight to USA (They might have a Golf Cart transporter waiting at Amsterdam )

Tell them at the Boarding Gate .... Remind them of your tight time frame & ask again for cart transport to Departure Gate to USA.

Are you using the same Airline .. from Florence to Amsterdam & then Amsterdam to USA.. ( If same it would help )

............................................................

Depending on where you are seating on the plane from Florence , you might take some time to get off the plane.


There is no " Free for All " rush to board MOST flights in Europe ..... They go by Rows or Zones.

TIP ..... USE the Plane Restroom before Landing .

......................

On Arrival in Amsterdam you will have at least a 10 min walk ,on One arm of a " U "

Then a 5 min walk on the center of the " U " and then another 10 min walk & SECURITY on the 2nd Arm of " U "

The Walk is All on the Level.

............

TIP If you NEED to use the Restrooms Try and wait till you are on the 3rd or 2nd Leg of " U "

Why Because Internal Flights arrive at gates on the 1st arm of " U " AND RestRooms Get Very Busy.

...................

BEST IDEA is to Inform Airline Staff of your Departure Time.


TIP Forget about your Checked Luggage they will make it ...... ? ?

..................

Have a good Vacation .

Note We Fly from Cork , Ireland to Europe , & Dublin , Ireland to USA

Thanks so much for the info! We are on KLM for all flights, so no issues with changing airlines. Also, the plane from Florence to Amsterdam is very small (an Embraer jet), so I'm not worried about taking a long time to disembark. I am wondering about carry-on bags, though. I'm guessing they will make me gate-check my carry-ons, and I have no idea how long it will take to have these returned. I would have no issue with checking everything through to the US, except for the fact that, if we were to miss our flight home from Amsterdam, I would want some items to get us through until we are rebooked on another flight. I may be able to stuff some things into my tote bag/my son's backpack and just check both suitcases, though.

That is great information about telling the ticket/gate agents in Florence about our tight connection, and I will be sure to do that. I'm sure people do this all the time, as KLM would not have sold me the ticket otherwise. However, there is only one flight per day from Amsterdam to Houston, so we would at least have to spend one extra night if we miss our flight.

 

[Woodview]

Amsterdam is the KLM Base SO NO Worries ... They Will Hold the plane ...

And Whisk you to the USA flight .

Just Identify Yourselves at Check In & at Boarding

Your Carry On ..... Watch Weight & Size ........ going through Security is done a very short distance from

your Boarding Date to USA . Onto belt & through X ray and collect.

UNLESS you have ????? Goods ..... Then ?????? happens

.........................................................

Note You Will see Armed Soldiers / Police with Guns & Dogs .... Take No Notice

NOTE how many International Flights from around the World use Amsterdam

And notice the many many different Nationalities are mixing around you as you pass through the airport.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Thanks so much for the info! We are on KLM for all flights, so no issues with changing airlines. Also, the plane from Florence to Amsterdam is very small (an Embraer jet), so I'm not worried about taking a long time to disembark. I am wondering about carry-on bags, though. I'm guessing they will make me gate-check my carry-ons, and I have no idea how long it will take to have these returned. I would have no issue with checking everything through to the US, except for the fact that, if we were to miss our flight home from Amsterdam, I would want some items to get us through until we are rebooked on another flight. I may be able to stuff some things into my tote bag/my son's backpack and just check both suitcases, though.

That is great information about telling the ticket/gate agents in Florence about our tight connection, and I will be sure to do that. I'm sure people do this all the time, as KLM would not have sold me the ticket otherwise. However, there is only one flight per day from Amsterdam to Houston, so we would at least have to spend one extra night if we miss our flight.

I just flew KLM from Florence to Amsterdam to Atlanta to home last Saturday. While this story has a happy ending, I was not a happy camper for every leg of this flight. To start, all airline computers were down at the Florence airport so that regardless of what the main board said about where you should check in for your flight, it was a lengthy waiting process as each person and bag had to be manually checked in by the ground staff. I don't think this happens very often because there didn't seem to be a process in place for doing more than a couple of flights this way. Our KLM flight was delayed well over an hour before takeoff, and for many of us our checked luggage didn't make the same flight for the rest of the day.

There seemed to be plenty of room for carry on bags on the Florence to Amsterdam flight (assuming your carry ons were the correct size to start with and not oversized luggage trying to pass as a carry on). I don't think I heard/saw anyone having to gate check a bag. And I didn't think the plane from Florence to Amsterdam was that small given that they call it a city hopper, but that's just opinion. They may not always use the same size plane, but I'd think they're probably consistent there.

Now the good part of this story is that even though my previously decent connection time of 2.5 hours in Amsterdam had dwindled to 45 minutes by the time we actually landed, I was able to get through security and find my gate in time to board my plane. (The plane was already boarding by the time I reached it, but I made it anyway.)

So you should be fine. The Amsterdam airport is very easy to navigate, and I'm not a seasoned world traveler. Just follow the directions at security and then the signs to your gate.

 

[TXTransplant]

I just flew KLM from Florence to Amsterdam to Atlanta to home last Saturday. While this story has a happy ending, I was not a happy camper for every leg of this flight. To start, all airline computers were down at the Florence airport so that regardless of what the main board said about where you should check in for your flight, it was a lengthy waiting process as each person and bag had to be manually checked in by the ground staff. I don't think this happens very often because there didn't seem to be a process in place for doing more than a couple of flights this way. Our KLM flight was delayed well over an hour before takeoff, and for many of us our checked luggage didn't make the same flight for the rest of the day.

There seemed to be plenty of room for carry on bags on the Florence to Amsterdam flight (assuming your carry ons were the correct size to start with and not oversized luggage trying to pass as a carry on). I don't think I heard/saw anyone having to gate check a bag. And I didn't think the plane from Florence to Amsterdam was that small given that they call it a city hopper, but that's just opinion. They may not always use the same size plane, but I'd think they're probably consistent there.

Now the good part of this story is that even though my previously decent connection time of 2.5 hours in Amsterdam had dwindled to 45 minutes by the time we actually landed, I was able to get through security and find my gate in time to board my plane. (The plane was already boarding by the time I reached it, but I made it anyway.)

So you should be fine. The Amsterdam airport is very easy to navigate, and I'm not a seasoned world traveler. Just follow the directions at security and then the signs to your gate.

Thank you so much for sharing that!

As a side note, I was sending my son to his dad's a couple of years ago and a similar thing happened to Southwest at Houston Hobby airport. The entire computer system went down. Since he was flying unaccompanied, I did not have his boarding pass (can't print them online). Thankfully, we were near the front of the line at the ticket counter when all hell broke loose, but it was still quite a wait. The ticket agents were hand-writing boarding passes. I don't even know what they were doing about checked bags (we didn't have one). They were asking people to jump the line depending on what time their flight, they were holding flights, and I guess some people missed their flights, too. It was total chaos. So, it sounds like the Florence airport handled the situation about as well as Southwest did!