Hello! Getting ready to head to Italy in 6 weeks, yippee! I hadn't thought about this until I started reading about the bag limits on Alitalia. Does anyone know or have experience with Alitalia? Specifically, our American airlines flight leaves the Washington Dulles with a layover in JFK, landing in Heathrow at 6:35 am. We deplane, get backpacks and depart Alitalia at 9:35am. We originally thought this leaves us plenty of time to make the Alitalia flight to Rome, even if delayed a bit. Additionally, there are additional flights to Rome leaving Heathrow throughout the day. Are we crazy? Does anyone know ALitalia's policy if we missed the 9:35 am flight? THANK YOU ALL!

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,

There will be plenty of people here who have had more experience with Alitalia than me, though the few times I've flown with them have been just fine.

One thing I will say is that I find Heathrow tends to be a bit of a muddle to get through (at least that has been my experience!) It's very big with four different terminals and most of the time it seems you need to catch a bus between terminals, which can add to complications because you often have to go through security a second time if you're changing terminals.

All this is to say that as soon as you land, you might want to head ASAP to your connection -- don't stop for a coffee or breakfast or a bit of shopping first. I've done that, thinking I had plenty of time between flights and wound up scrambling! I did exactly the wrong thing last fall; was at the far end of a terminal brushing my teeth when my flight was called and I had to run -- toothpaste everywhere....

I don't think I'd want to chance missing the 9:35 flight in hopes of catching the next one; I don't think there's that many flights a day by Alitalia between Heathrow and Rome.

Last fall I was headed the other direction -- Rome to Heathrow -- and fog threatened to cancel my 10 a.m. flight. There was only one other scheduled that day and it was full so I was very relieved it finally got away! So, besides change fees, you could be in for a very long wait!

But have a wonderful trip, I wish I was going back soon!
Sandra

Cindi,

You might want to check a recent thread called "Alitalia Carry On's". I don't know how to get you to link to it but currently is it on page 3 of the Italy Forum.

It addresses A LOT of your issues.

Hope it helps.

Doug

I would agree with the comment about Heathrow Airport. It's a zoo.
You should get to your next gate, or terminal, ASAP after landing from the US.
THEN you can relax with a cup of over-priced airport coffee; but know that you are nearby when your flight is scheduled to depart.
Have a wonderful holiday!!
There's a great website called www.airlinequality.com; and it has lots of people's opinions about airports worldwide.
Interesting reading if nothing else.

Flying Alitalia through Frankfurt, we had a tight connection. We were actually hoping to miss the flight- with an excuse to extend our vacation. There were others on the same flight- with the same connection...can you believe they held the connecting flight. My luck! I can be stuck in DesMoines forever, but get the Alitalia hustle through europe.

quote:

Originally posted by Cindi:
Hello! Getting ready to head to Italy in 6 weeks, yippee! I hadn't thought about this until I started reading about the bag limits on Alitalia. Does anyone know or have experience with Alitalia? Specifically, our American airlines flight leaves the Washington Dulles with a layover in JFK, landing in Heathrow at 6:35 am. We deplane, get backpacks and depart Alitalia at 9:35am. We originally thought this leaves us plenty of time to make the Alitalia flight to Rome, even if delayed a bit. Additionally, there are additional flights to Rome leaving Heathrow throughout the day. Are we crazy? Does anyone know ALitalia's policy if we missed the 9:35 am flight? THANK YOU ALL!

HiCindi,
I'll be on an Alitalia flight from Heathrow at 9:35 am in six weeks too. Only my British Air flight from Detroit is scheduled to land at 7 am, not earlier like yours. It's rather hard to imagine that two and a half or three hours might not be enough time for us to make our connecting flights, right? Scary.

I suppose I better check out the airport's website to see if I can map out a prospective strategy for where I'm supposed to be at. Maybe that will relieve some of my stress. Not all of it. But, it will help me to become more familar with the layout of the airport. Then afterwards, I'm sure all of our stress will disappear as soon as our flights land in Rome. Cindy

There is not a lot to check about how to do Heathrow - you are in transit, so you just follow the in-transit signs. Then you will wait for a bus. So of course do not tarry, but you are probably okay.

As to your luggage .... But of course you have a change of clothes and any necessary medicines and such in your carryon. Thing are so bad we each back some clothes in each others' bags, figuring that it is better to look like a transvesite than to wear filthy clothes for three days.

But once you take these precautions your bags will be fine, the baggage gods only frown on those who mock them.

neal